Half Dome

Yosemite National Park

Backpack trip from Glacier Point

to the summit of Half Dome

October 2005

We planned to hike from the Happy Isles on the Valley floor but were running late and thought we'd save a little time hiking from Glacier Point.  In fact, it didn't save us any time and the route from Glacier Point, in my opinion, based on a previous climb of Half Dome from Happy Isles,  is more difficult.   

When we checked with the ranger we were informed that today was the last day the cables would be in place for the final pitch to the top.  The date is flexible; there's not a firm date.  Our leisurely trip had just become a mad-dash. 

Half Dome is in the distance.  El Capitan in the foreground.

The trail is pretty long and it took us about 5 hours to reach the last stand of trees prior to the climb.  We were planning a 3-night backpacking trip and carrying our backpacks wore us down.  We decided to pitch camp and get a before-dawn start, early enough to beat the rangers to the top for their final sweep of the mountain prior to removing the cables. 

We awoke before dawn and hit the trail for the top carrying only daypacks.  We were the only people around and it was a another beautiful California day.  Using flashlights we followed the poorly-marked (for night travel) trail over the first hump.  This got the blood pumping.  We reached the saddle at the base of the cables just as it was getting light.  It's about an 800-foot final climb up the cables to the summit.  On this day in October the mountain belonged to us. 

The jumping off point, the Diving Board.  Yosemite Valley 4000 feet below and El Capitan in the sunlight in the distance. Yes, that is a person standing on the point.  A real pack mule!

For those not familiar with this hike, "the cables" are two heavy, steel cables that are attached to the 50°+ slope on the side of Half Dome.  (photo above far left)  For climbing and descending they are necessary hand-holds.  But even with the cables, each year a few people fall from the rock and are often killed. 

View heading down the cables.  (going up is easier!)   The granite slope exceeds 50 degrees in some spots.

Half Dome with the Diving Board hanging over the vertical face. The person in the earlier photo was standing on the nub at the top. The cables are on the other side of the mountain. Ansel Adams, the famous photographer, often photographed Half Dome.