Road Trip

The right way to Conquer the Half Dome Hike in Yosemite Nationwide Park – Bearfoot Concept

06/08/2023

Climbing Half Dome is a ceremony of passage for outside fans and ranks among the many most well-known hikes within the US.

Etched into the gorgeous canvas of California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, Half Dome is known for its sheer granite face and the long-lasting (however nerve-wracking) metal cables you should climb to succeed in the summit.

Climbing Half Dome isn’t for the faint of coronary heart – it’s an especially strenuous day hike spanning 14+ miles with 5,300+ ft of elevation achieve. However you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous waterfalls alongside the best way and panoramic views of the complete Yosemite Valley and Excessive Sierra from the 8,800-foot summit, so it’s well worth the strenuous trek.

I hiked Half Dome in 2019 together with my husband and a few associates. This journey holds a particular reminiscence for me as a result of not solely was I pleased with myself for efficiently ending the powerful climb, however my husband deliberate a shock birthday celebration on the prime of the dome for me!

Maintain studying for our full information to climbing Half Dome together with when to go to, what to pack, find out how to get Half Dome permits, and an in depth journey report.

Necessary Reminder: Because it goes in the entire locations we share, please follow good path etiquette and bear in mind to Depart No Hint. This implies packing out all your rubbish (together with rest room paper), being respectful to others, and following the established guidelines.

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Half Dome Overview & Path Map

There are numerous routes for climbing to the highest of the Half Dome. You might do it in a day or you might do a multi-day backpacking journey.

Most individuals (together with us) select the day hike which is completely doable with correct preparation and planning.

For the day hike, the hike to the highest of Half Dome is a mixture of two trails: the Mist Path and the John Muir Path.

These two trails begin on the identical trailhead (Blissful Isles) and finish on the Half Dome so have a variety of overlap (proven in pink on the map). There’s a part the place these two trails cut up on the best way. The blue part reveals the John Muir Path route and the yellow part reveals the Mist Path route.

Trail map of Half Dome — Half Dome Path (Pink) — Yellow: Mist Path route. Blue: JMT route. | Picture: Harshita Kasera

Based mostly on which route you select, the path size and time might differ. Mainly, you’ll be able to choose between an additional 1.5 miles of simpler terrain by taking the John Muir Path, or a steep and shorter route by taking the Mist Path, or you might do one path on the best way up and one other on the best way down.

Most individuals select to hike the Mist Path on the best way up and the John Muir Path on the best way down.

That is the best way we hiked the path and would extremely advocate it. The Mist Path on the best way up has nice views of the Vernal & Nevada Falls and the John Muir Path on the best way down was a lot better for my knees after a really lengthy day of climbing.

Size: 14-17 miles RT (relying on the path – by way of John Muir or Mist)
Issue: Extraordinarily strenuous
Path Sort: Out and again
Whole elevation achieve: 5,300-5,700 ft (relying on the path)
Time: 10-14 hours
Allow required: Sure
Canines allowed: No

Half Dome Path Map

How To Get Half Dome Permits

Because of the recognition of climbing Half Dome, permits are required. This allow system not solely protects the panorama from overuse but in addition ensures the protection of the hikers by decreasing the crowding on the cable part.

There are two methods to safe a Half Dome allow – within the March preseason lottery or the day by day lottery throughout the climbing season. All permits are reserved by way of Recreation.gov.

Pre-Season Lottery

To enter the preseason lottery, you should apply on-line anytime March 1-31 and outcomes will likely be emailed out in mid-April. In case you are profitable in getting a allow, you’ll want to verify your reservation and pay the allow price.

There’s a cap of 300 hikers per day (225 day hikers, 75 backpackers) so you might want to be extraordinarily fortunate within the lottery. Fortunately, we gained the preseason lottery so we had been in a position to plan our journey far prematurely.

Day by day Lottery

For those who don’t get a allow within the pre-season lottery, there’s a day by day lottery that happens two days earlier than you’d hike Half Dome (ex. you’d apply on a Thursday to hike on a Saturday).

The outcomes of the day by day lottery are provided that night time, so you’ve gotten the complete subsequent day to organize.

Screenshot of recreation.gov website for Half Dome permits — Picture: Recreation.gov

What Occurs If I Don’t Get a Half Dome Allow?

For those who do NOT get a allow, you’ll solely be allowed to go so far as the sub-dome (which is the bottom of the Half Dome the place the chains are connected to the mountain).

Rangers are usually stationed on the sub-dome to test for permits and it’s a hefty positive of as much as $5,000 if you’re caught climbing Half Dome with no allow.

Please don’t try the cables with no Half Dome allow.

Greatest Time to Hike Half Dome

The Half Dome cables often go up the Friday earlier than Memorial Day (circumstances allowing) and are available down the day after Columbus Day so this narrows down the window if you wish to attain the summit.

Usually August or September could be simpler to safe a allow than Could, June, or July as they’re the height summer season season. Weekdays are additionally simpler for getting permits vs. weekends.

Some folks climb Half Dome outdoors of when the cables are up, however that’s extremely unadvised.

Other than that you just additionally must safe a allow, which dictates when you’ll be able to hike Half Dome.

We bought our allow for August and through this time, the park was comparatively much less crowded than our earlier visits in Could and July. The climate was nice for climbing and fortunately there have been no wildfires close by affecting air high quality.

Half Dome cables shot from afar — The cables to climb to the summit are usually up late Could – mid October

How Lengthy Does it Take to Hike Half Dome?

Relying on whether or not you select to do the John Muir Path or the Mist Path or a mixture of each, the climbing time might differ. On common, it takes 10 – 14 hours to hike Half Dome with a lot of breaks in between.

Since we weren’t staying on the park, our day began early round 4:30 am and we reached the parking zone round 5:45 am. There have been ample parking spots on the Yosemite Valley trailhead parking so we parked our automobile and began the hike round 6:00 am.

Our tempo was fairly good and we had been in a position to end the hike in 12.5 hrs round 6:30 pm, with loads of time to benefit from the summit.

View of Half Dome from Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park — Be aware: this view of Half Dome is from Glacier Level, not the Half Dome path

How To Practice for Half Dome

As evident from the stats, Half Dome is an especially strenuous hike when it comes to size and elevation achieve. Correct planning and coaching are vital to having a unbelievable expertise.

We educated for climbing Half Dome by occurring hikes of assorted totally different lengths (6 miles to 10 miles) each different weekend to ensure we’re in fine condition and follow. I’d extremely advocate doing that if doable in order that your physique is used to the gap.

Planning Your Half Dome Hike

For a pleasing expertise, planning the entire Half Dome journey prematurely is extraordinarily vital. Right here’s a couple of key issues to remember:

Yosemite Entrance Charges

Since Half Dome is a part of Yosemite Nationwide Park, you might want to pay the per-vehicle entrance price or use your .

When To Begin Climbing Half Dome

With the intention to do the day hike, you might want to attain the trailhead fairly early within the morning at dawn (and even earlier), and resolve on a non-negotiable turn-around time (aka the time you’ll flip round you probably have not but reached the summit).

The parking zone can replenish shortly, so an early arrive is essential for attending to park as near the trailhead as doable.

Half Dome is sort of uncovered so if you happen to’re climbing within the warmth, it’s virtually crucial to get an early begin to attempt to beat the warmth.

Lodging

Staying within the park itself the night time earlier than your Half Dome hike will guarantee reaching the trailhead early within the morning and is really helpful if you will get tenting or lodging reservations.

Sadly, we weren’t in a position to get lodging within the park, but when we had been in a position to get one we might have most popular that to keep away from the 1+ hour drive at 4:30am.

Half Dome Packing Listing

Along with the 10 day climbing necessities, there’s a couple of specifics you want for climbing Half Dome:

Advisable Climbing Packing Listing

Beneath are a couple of of my favourite items of day climbing gear and suggestions:

Path Report: Our Expertise Climbing Half Dome

Beginning the Hike

We reached the Nationwide Park round 5:30 am, and parked our automobile on the Yosemite Valley Trailhead Parking on the Blissful Isle Loop Street. It’s then a brief 0.5 mile stroll from Blissful Isles Trailhead to the Half Dome Trailhead. We began round 6:00 am.

A woman hiking to Half Dome wearing a red backpack — Beginning our Half Dome Hike | Picture: Antriksh Saxena

Vernal Falls

The primary important viewpoint from the trailhead is the Vernal Falls footbridge the place you get a glimpse of Vernal Falls. It’s about 1.5 miles from the trailhead, however the climb is fairly steep.

The waterfall is basically fairly and this can be a great place for a photograph op. Vernal Falls can also be your final probability for flush bogs and a water fountain.

After the Vernal Falls footbridge, the trail branches into two, the place you’ll be able to choose the Mist Path or John Muir Path.

We select to do the Mist Path on the best way up because it gives a close-up view of the waterfalls. The Mist path is sort of steep and you ultimately attain the highest of Vernal Falls. Be ready to get moist on this path because the mist from the waterfalls will get to you. I’d advocate sporting a rain jacket or poncho throughout this part!

Vernal Falls with a rainbow at the base. Yosemite National Park — Vernal Falls

Nevada Falls

Climbing even additional in round 2 miles you’ll ultimately attain Nevada Falls. There’s a small detour to view the highest of Nevada Falls and take a brief break.

The highest of Vernal & Nevada Falls by way of Mist Path can also be a widespread day hike in Yosemite Nationwide Park, so don’t count on solitude on this part of the hike.

Landscape photo of Nevada Falls and large granite domes in Yosemite National Park — Nevada Falls

Subdome

About 3 miles after Vernal Falls, you’ll attain the subdome. To achieve the subdome, you’ll have to climb the large rock stairs. That is undoubtedly one of many difficult elements of the hike!

After the climb, you’ll lastly attain the highest of the subdome. From the highest of the subdome, you will notice the well-known Half Dome cables.

This can be a great spot to take a break and kit up earlier than you ultimately begin the climb.

I used to be actually a bit overwhelmed at this level. I wouldn’t have a concern of heights however for me, it was about taking a deep breath earlier than the cables and gaining psychological power (Thoughts over matter).

There may be sincerely no disgrace in attending to the cables and turning round. I’d have accomplished that if I didn’t really feel assured. For those who don’t really feel so then it’s completely okay. For those who try it with out being comfy you’ll not solely put your self but in addition others in peril.

A man takes a selfie on the subdome of Half Dome with friends smiling in the background at a distance — Climbing up the subdome | Picture: Antriksh Saxena

Climbing the Metal Cables

We reached the cables round 11:30 am. There was no ranger stationed at the moment to test for permits, however all the time have your allow useful simply in case.

There are two cables to climb the final 400 ft to the summit. Each 10-20 ft there are picket planks to relaxation and preserve your steadiness. The cables are a few 45-55 diploma grade, and also you don’t want any mountain climbing gear to climb them.

A shot from the bottle of the Half Dome cables — Half Dome cables

We equipped earlier than climbing the cables.

Earlier than you begin the climb, be sure you put on full-fingered gloves to have a very good grip on the cables and keep away from any blisters.

Additionally be sure you safe any belongings (digital camera, telephone, water bottle) so nothing falls out of your day pack throughout the climb!

The steel cables appear daunting however if you happen to climb it patiently and safely one step at a time, it is going to appear straightforward. This is identical path for hikers going up and coming down so being conscious is essential.

It is very important not solely take your time but in addition be affected person with different hikers. There weren’t many individuals on the cables throughout our climb. Stay on the within of the cables whereas climbing to your personal security.

We reached the summit of Half Dome after 20 minutes of climbing up the cables.

In case you are conscious and secure, this half is extraordinarily thrilling and one of many highlights of the entire hike!

Be aware: This can be very unsafe to aim the cables if there are storm clouds or if the bottom is moist. Use your greatest judgment.

A woman smiles wearing gloves at the base of the half dome cables in Yosemite — Climbing the Half Dome cables | Picture: Antriksh Saxena

Summit of Half Dome

We lastly reached the highest of the Half Dome round midday and we had been greeted with panoramic views of Yosemite Valley and the Excessive Sierra.

After a couple of picture periods, I used to be in for a shock.

My husband had carried a mini cake (Nothing Bundt cake — my favourite) to have fun my birthday. He all the time surprises me together with his candy gestures! We reduce the cake and did a mini celebration earlier than beginning the return journey.

Hikers stand in the distance on top of the summit of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park — The summit of Half Dome

Hike Again to Blissful Isles Trailhead

It took us virtually twice as lengthy to climb down the cables than to climb up them as a result of there have been a variety of hikers developing. Following correct climbing etiquette, all the time yield to the uphill (or up-climbing) hikers.

As soon as I bought down the cables, I couldn’t consider what I simply did! The sensation was unbelievable. We had been all excited to return and revel in a scrumptious meal so the return journey felt prefer it flew by.

At Nevada Falls, we selected to do the longer John Muir Path because it was simpler on the knees.

I hope this information covers all the small print that can enable you to plan your Half Dome climbing journey. As all the time, please comply with the Depart No Hint rules, don’t neglect to have enjoyable, take a lot of footage, and have a secure, satisfying hike!

Do you’ve gotten any questions on climbing Half Dome? Depart them within the feedback beneath!