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mdash - Aug 13, 2006 9:39 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2006
Valley / CablesFUN! This hike is steep! The cables were a blast--much easier coming down than I thought.
Craig Nielsen - Aug 13, 2006 4:08 am Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2006
Mist / CablesClimbed in about 3.5 hours to the top. Many people despite an early start. A great climb and wonderous views! Got in a traffic jam on the trail back on the mist trail :( But was still very much worth it
colinr - Aug 12, 2006 12:22 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2006
Half Dome from Sunrise Lakes via Clouds RestMade it up and back down the cables with Bud, Trent, and Stephen after coming down from Sunrise Lakes Trailhead and Clouds Rest. More strenuous than I thought it would be, but more than worth it for the views and experience!
kngalaric - Aug 9, 2006 2:00 am
Been up and down 5 timesGreat hike even with the Disneylanders. Better to make it a point to point from Glacier Point down to the valley and have a car waiting.
Last time we went on opening Saturday, it was a zoo. People had to wait in line for the cables, we went up on the outside, and people were annoyed by this.
Who wants to wait in line for an hour to stand behind people who are out of shape and/or afraid of falling? Not me!
Gahugafuga - Aug 7, 2006 2:16 pm Date Climbed: Sep 30, 2004
The CablesClimbed on a weekday after tourist season. We pretty much had the summit to ourselves which meant we got all of the best nap spots. It sounds like this hike is more rewarding when you do it during the non-crowded times.
rasgoat - Aug 6, 2006 10:33 pm
great place!standard route. when we got to the base of the cables there was a horde of people trying to come down and the ranger was contemplating closing the trail. when the horde subsided me and my friend paul made our way up the cables and were some of the few people on the summit above the scattered clouds. luckily we didnt get hit by lightning either!
rangermatt - Aug 6, 2006 2:51 am Date Climbed: May 29, 2006
Memorial Day '06Two-day trip, not too bad. Not as nice views as Clouds Rest, and way more crowded too. The cables were a fun adventure, though, and made it worthwhile!
climberfirefighter - Aug 3, 2006 11:22 pm
A Must!A must hike for all visitors!
Brandon Fuller - Aug 1, 2006 7:20 am Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2000
CablesFirst major hike for me. What an experience it was.
RMdaytripsgrl - Jul 26, 2006 8:03 pm Date Climbed: Jun 25, 1999
First taste of climbingEveryone must see this place before they die! Not exactly sure on the exact day of the climb, did this on the way out to the backcountry for 6 days. (But I know the day we got back to San Fran, we watched my Buffalo Sabres lose the stanley cup via "No GOAL"...HEARTBREAK AGAIN...) Took the Mist Trail/Cables route. Cables can cause severe pants crapping on first time...SWEET! First big climb,how can you not get hooked? Will forever be my favorite mtn in the world! Did it also again the following year via John Muir trail...much more fun to descend the Mist Trail vs. climb it with all your backcountry gear...:)
joe_akeem - Jul 20, 2006 9:26 am Date Climbed: Jun 14, 2003
Route Climbed: StandardNice but too crowded for my liking...
395guy - Jul 18, 2006 6:29 am Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2006
I hate the cablesThis was my second time up Half Dome (also in 2002). I forgot how much I hate the cables until I got there. I was about 10 minutes ahead of the 4 others from my group and I could have bolted up the cables at that time since there was a large gap up to the next group going up the cables. I waited though to make sure the others from my group were up for the challenge (especially the teenagers who had not done this climb). But now we ended up behind a slow couple and too many people were descending to pass them. My calves were cramping as we waited and waited from this couple to make slow progress up the cables. But they made it and so did we.
I had brought a kite with me to the top of Half Dome. Everyone on the trail that saw it sticking out of my pack thought it was a cool idea. I had tried to fly it 2 years ago on top of North Dome but there was no wind. I figured, surely there would be enough wind on Half Dome. I told my 3 kids to watch for it about noon. Unfortunately, the sporadic and chaotic winds on Half Dome thwarted all my attempts to get it in the air. Oh well. It was still a fun hike.
The quote of the day came from one of the teenagers in our group: "All this work for only half a peak. Next time I'm going to hike a whole peak."
IdaClimber - Jul 10, 2006 9:20 pm Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2005
CrowdedGotta do it if you are in YNP!!!
Koonsy - Jul 9, 2006 3:46 pm
Route Climbed: StandardWhat a fun hike. Can't wait to head back out that way and do it again
thebeave7 - Jul 5, 2006 5:27 am Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2006
Dayhike with CloudsrestA wonderful dayhike up from the valley. Started presunrise, and timed my summit perfectly so I was alone for 15min on the Sunday before 4th of July. Great views, nice bit of exposure too.
Smithman123 - Jul 1, 2006 10:29 pm Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2006
The Cables via Mist TrailWe left the Bay area about 4am, and set out from the valley floor a little before 9am. Made it to the top by 1pm and returned to the valley floor to check out the other sites. It's a great hike, but bring lots of water as it can be uncomfortably hot after passing Vernal and Nevada Falls on the Mist Trail.
OJ Loenneker - Jun 24, 2006 10:22 am
Long Hike!!! in 199?Hiked up this rock back when I was in high school with my Dad. We took the JMT to Little Yosemite Valley, and then up to the top of Quarter Dome.. We had to sort of scramble, and hold on to the cables, because the poles where not in place . The cables where just laying against the rock. We made it up and back down. I was amazed at the amount of lightning striked of this rock...
Returned to the trailhead via the mist trail/staircase... Whoooff.. that was a long day, and I sure was tired...
taw6644 - Jun 17, 2006 9:50 pm Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2006
Half Dome Mid JuneI really like this hike. The scenary was great and the waterfalls are something else. I thought it looked a little daunting coming from the east. We picked a good day for it too. Sunny cool day. Not very many people on the trail. About 25 people max on the summit. You know, the cables were not as bad as I thought they would be.
sierramtngoat - Jun 16, 2006 11:26 am Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2001
Mist Trail/JMT/CablesDayhiked it with a full pack with my brother while training for Mount Rainier. This was my third time to the top, though this was my first dayhike from the Valley floor. Always a good one, and so close to the Bay Area. The other 2X were in Sept-89 with my Dad and again in Aug-99 with Maria.
Ashburt - Jun 9, 2006 2:59 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2005
Half Dome HikeThis has been my 3rd time atop Half Dome, and everytime is the same...absolutely amazing!