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FastHiker
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Has anyone here hiked Half Dome? I was wondering what the best way to prepare is. For sheer distance, I’m in good enough shape right now. In theory, a 15 mile hike shouldn’t be that difficult. As far as climbing a bunch of stairs, pulling myself up a 45 degree slope with a cable, and gaining 5000 feet in 7.5 miles, I’m not so sure. Currently my calves and hamstring muscles may be in good shape but my quads sure aren’t. Neither are my arms.
I haven’t set a date yet but I’ll probably do it next year. That gives me a while to get into shape. Those hikes at Coe where I gain 6000 feet or so should help but those 6000 feet are spread out over a fairly long distance, not 7.5 miles.
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Total Posts: 260 | Joined Nov. 2004 | Posted on: 1:34 pm on Aug. 30, 2005 | IP
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Randy
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I’ve done half dome 4 times. The last time was in September 2004. There are some pictures from the summit in my photo set called Yosemite 2004 on flickr. I had a great time all 4 times, but from my experience it’s good to know a few things before you go.
The first thing you need to do is to choose a route. There are several day hiking routes that I know of. And of course lots of people summit half dome without doing the full 4800 ft assent. I’ve heard of horse and mule tours that are available for a price, on which you can ride up as far as Little Yosemite Valley. But for a serious hiker this is not an option. Another option for backpackers is to make reservations at the trail camp there, and then day hike the summit after a night’s rest.
The classic route is to hike up from Happy Isles by way of the mist trail. You climb rock steps to the top of Vernal fall, and then to the top of Nevada fall. An alternative route would be to use the John Muir trail all the way to the top of Nevada. The mist trail is shorter, but the rock steps are killer, especially on the way down. This is also the most crowded trail in the park. If it’s during the summer peak, you will always get caught up in the tourist traffic. The Muir trail is a little over a mile longer, but it is a switchback trail with less foot traffic, but it’s also a stock trail, and you get to smell and dodge manure.
From the top of Nevada (5910 ft), you use the Muir trail which is mostly flat until you reach the signed junction just beyond the trail camp. Most of it has had sand put down for the horses which sucks for hiking. After that, it’s a fairly steady climb all the way up to the northern base of the rock. You begin with more rock steps here. They climb up steeply up to the “saddle” section. This where the cables begin. The last 400 ft is a scramble up a steel cable.
One other route is to purchase a one way bus ticket up to Glacier Point ( I think it’s $14 one way), and hike mostly downhill to the top of Nevada fall from there (7 miles). Then return by way of the Mist or Muir trails.
Still another route, is to bus up Tioga Road to Tenaya Lake, and hike the trails to Cloud’s Rest, and on to Half Dome. I have done the day hike from this point to Cloud’s Rest and back (14 miles), and it’s a fantastic hike by itself.
I will omit the common hike preparation advice that any experienced hiker should be well familiar with, but here are some miscellaneous tips:
Bring gloves for the cables. The friction is hard on bare hands. Depending on what kind of gloves you use, you may also need chalk for grip. Some kinds of gloves can be slippery on the smooth steel, forcing you to strengthen you grip. This will tire out your hands quickly.
I would highly recommend not attempting this hike on a weekend day during the peak visitation season. I did this hike once during a summer weekend, and not only was it very hot, but there were so many people, there was a traffic jam on the cables. People panic and stop moving and the whole line is stuck in place. Not fun! Last time I did it was on a weekday after Labor Day. Very few people, and cooler.
I also highly recommend sturdy boots with good ankle support. Much of this hike is over rough rocks.
If you have a filter you can refill your water along Merced river above Nevada fall, or at the trail camp. After that you must pack it.
Edited to add some additonal thoughts; The trail up from Little Yosemite has quite a bit of shade especially in early morning, but on the way down in the afternoon the angle of the sun make for a lot more exposure. Plan on using as much liquid going down as up. I used a total of 5 liters for the whole trip from Happy Isles. It's usually cooler up top because of the breeze, but still in direct sunlight. If you see dark clouds, don't go at all. Rocks are a very bad place to be if a sudden lightning storm occurs. I was caught like that once on Little Baldy in Sequoia. When I started out, the sun was out, and I applied sun screen. By the time I reached the summit, it was dark and raining, and lightning strikes were occuring closeby. Scary !
(Edited by Randy at 7:17 am on Aug. 31, 2005)
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Total Posts: 147 | Joined Sep. 2004 | Posted on: 8:13 pm on Aug. 30, 2005 | IP
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1000Pks
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I've only done Half Dome twice, but it's not so bad. Hundreds of tourists do it on a busy day. The sign at Happy Isles says 8.2 miles and the total gain is about 5,000 feet (about 100' worth of dips along the way). If you've done plenty of gain in one day, you'll find it fun and easy. I took YARTS from Merced, and was able to hike the peak, and catch the bus back to Merced all in the same day. It's a graded park service trail, and while many will tell you about the cables that it's hard, I found it just another obstacle that most will surmount.
Doing the peak from Tenaya Lake is great if you have a car waiting in the Valley. It's then a long 22 mile hike to bag Clouds Rest and Half Dome in a day, but don't think you'll bag Half Dome and return to Tenaya Lake! The drop between Clouds Rest and Half Dome is considerable, making climbing back over or about Clouds Rest a lot worse than dropping along the JMT to the Valley.
Preparing is the same as for any such peak. Run, hike, climb stairs, bicycle, or whatever. No big problem with altitude at 8,842 feet. You'll have little problem, but do bring plenty of water. There's a nice faucet at the Vernal Fall Bridge (0.5 mile from Happy Isles) with a regular restroom. Compost restroom at Little Yosemite Valley, past the top of Nevada Falls. In mid-summer, you'll want to start early to avoid the heat.
I'd do this peak more often except for the number of people. It does get crowded on the cables!
(Edited by 1000Pks at 8:31 am on Aug. 31, 2005)
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Total Posts: 56 | Joined Mar. 2004 | Posted on: 8:19 am on Aug. 31, 2005 | IP
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KAB
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I was at Yosemite last weekend on a volunteer work project and had just a short time to take in a hike so I hiked the Mist trail on Friday morning. I would take a guess that the challenge you will find will not be the hike itself but with dealing with the crowds. While I suspect that if you go off-season and on the weekday, crowds will be less but still more crowded than you can imagine.
Personally, I wasn't use to having so many people around me and that caused me the most problem. Yosemite is more like an urban park, in my opinion so if you keep that in mind you might deal better with the crowds.
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Total Posts: 76 | Joined Dec. 2002 | Posted on: 9:02 am on Aug. 31, 2005 | IP
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KAB
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I forgot to add to be sure to check for Half-Dome closures. This year, the last half-mile of the trail is closed from 7-4pm Mon-Thurs until 10/4/2005.
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Total Posts: 76 | Joined Dec. 2002 | Posted on: 11:35 am on Aug. 31, 2005 | IP
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FastHiker
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Thanks for all the great information. As much as I’d like to hike Half Dome right now, I figure I’ll try it this time next year. That gives me some time to get ready for the stairs and cables at the end. I’m confident my quads will be ready for the stairs but I have serious doubts about the cables. Some people claim the area were the cables are doesn’t get steeper than 45º. Others claim the steepest sections are between 60º and 65º and you are totally dependent upon your arms to pull yourself up the cable. If this is the case, I doubt I’ll be able to make it to the top of Half Dome. Until recently, I’ve never done any serious exercise for my biceps. At 51, I’m at the age where you start to lose muscle mass, not get suddenly stronger. Oh well, I’ll see how I’m doing this time next year.
I might be better off going somewhere that only requires the legs. I doubt the view from Half Dome is really any better than any other place along the rim. The main reason for climbing Half Dome is so you can say you climbed it. I used to ski to Dewey Point. That’s a good place to hang your legs over the edge and take in the view as you eat lunch.
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Total Posts: 260 | Joined Nov. 2004 | Posted on: 4:55 am on Sep. 3, 2005 | IP
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Randy
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You shouldn't let the cables put you off. I have always heard 45 degrees was the steepest portion. But you don't have to be wicked stong to do it. It depends on your weight as much as anything. It's kind of like a race car. Optimal power vs weight ratio works best. I have seen slender people go right up the cables without difficulty, while larger, seemingly more muscular, people seem to struggle. Also good grip is key factor.
There are boards lying between the eye-bolts that hold up the cables which provide a better foot-hold if you find you need to rest for a bit.
The views are spectaular from half dome. Besides the valley view, you get a sweeping 360 panorma. I find that the view is awsome at various point around the rim, and they are all unique. But half dome is probably the best overall.
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Total Posts: 147 | Joined Sep. 2004 | Posted on: 4:07 pm on Sep. 3, 2005 | IP
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FastHiker
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Maybe there’s hope then. At 6’ 1” and 158 pounds, I’m not exactly overweight. With all the hiking and time spent of the ski machine I’ve been doing in recent months, I’ve lost 22 pounds. If my weight keeps going down, I’ll have to start eating a lot more just to stay even.
I’m not sure what the best way to develop my hand strength is, squeeze tennis balls maybe.
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Total Posts: 260 | Joined Nov. 2004 | Posted on: 6:41 pm on Sep. 3, 2005 | IP
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1000Pks
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I can't do a single chin-up anymore, yet I had little problem. The angle is not too bad; I have a photo to show that at the steepest part. E-mail me if you wish to see it. Looks like nothing. There is one spot where you step up over an 1 foot overhanging slab, but you just pull yourself up the cables. Nice to be strong in your arms, and do chin-ups or maybe bar dips to increase your strength. Unless you are really weak in your arms, I wouldn't worry about it. And, it's a great view.
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Total Posts: 56 | Joined Mar. 2004 | Posted on: 10:37 am on Sep. 4, 2005 | IP
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Rix
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My 16 year-old daughter and I completed the hike in about 11 hours during the first week of July. We had prepared with numerous small (three to five mile) hikes to elevations exceeding 8,000 feet. That said, I believe general leg strength and conditioning are of greatest importance. At my age, I have found hiking poles to be both weight sparing on the downhill and good for balance as well. You should find a way to secure the poles while climbing the cables.
I am sure that you have enough upper body strength to master the cables. The wooden cross slats are sufficiently numerous to ensure adequate time to rest if necessary. The best gloves for gripping appear to be relatively cheap cloth gloves with rubber nubs on them. They can be bought at most hardware stores (eg Home Base).
It was a wonderful trip with spectacular views. The crowds should be down after Labor Day and days are still long enough for you to make the ascent this year! Just make sure that if you decide to go, that you hike on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday if you go prior to early October (the trail is closed the other four days for trail repair.
Good Luck!
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Total Posts: 8 | Joined Sep. 2005 | Posted on: 12:40 am on Sep. 5, 2005 | IP
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mrfozzie
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We just came back from Half Dome. It was great. You should make sure that you plan your hike to land on a weekend. The rock is closed Mon-Thur 7am-4pm for cable repairs. We got lucky for Labor Day Monday since they didn't work on the holiday.
We've posted some photos in our Half Dome blog:
http://mrfozzie.blogspot.com/
Have fun!
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Total Posts: 2 | Joined Sep. 2005 | Posted on: 4:24 pm on Sep. 15, 2005 | IP
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jaydsai
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(Edited by jaydsai at 8:00 pm on Oct. 21, 2005)
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Total Posts: 11 | Joined Sep. 2005 | Posted on: 9:34 am on Sep. 16, 2005 | IP
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mrfozzie
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In my opinion, if you're planning to go up Half Dome in one day, you should build up your stamina because the hike is along one. I've always had a slight fear of heights. If you can get passed the switchbacks(before reaching the cables), you should be okay with your "fear of heights" problem once you get to the cables. However, the cables do require a good hand grip and overall arm strength.
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Total Posts: 2 | Joined Sep. 2005 | Posted on: 11:34 am on Sep. 16, 2005 | IP
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jaydsai
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(Edited by jaydsai at 6:01 pm on Oct. 6, 2005)
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Total Posts: 11 | Joined Sep. 2005 | Posted on: 11:55 am on Sep. 16, 2005 | IP
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Rix
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The trail to upper falls is considerably shorter than the trail to Half Dome although aside from the cables, the half dome grade is not really more difficult than the upper falls grade. Remember that you will have had a significant hike under your belt prior to reaching Little Yosemite Valley (I felt as though from Little Yosemite Valley, I had stacked on an additional upper falls hike prior to reaching the summit of half dome).
I am not sure that 40 minutes daily on a Precor will provide you with enough stamina for you to be comfortable on this hike. A full hour would be better with variable resistance, making sure that you work hard enough to both feel it in your legs and to lose your wind. It would be good if you could get some elevation work in ahead of time (maybe a "getaway" to the Trinity Alps or a drive up Highway 50 would get you to a day hike over 5,000 feet).
You will DEFINITELY make it to the top of half dome if you just give yourself enough time. Leave at first light and don't spend too much time at Nevada Falls (although this is very inviting). Make sure to bring plenty of water and, if possible, a filter.
Although I haven't done this, I did observe a number of hikers climbing on the cables with the aid of a rope tied around the waist and a carabiner tied two to three feet from the waist loop. The carabiner can be clipped to the cable and then released and re-attached at the points where the cable intersects the cross pole. This device might ease your fear of heights, although once you are on the cables, it does not seem that difficult to just keep climbing without it.
Anyway, go for it and make sure to let us know how it went!
Rix
ps. don't forget the camera!!
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Total Posts: 8 | Joined Sep. 2005 | Posted on: 9:42 pm on Sep. 16, 2005 | IP
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jaydsai
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(Edited by jaydsai at 6:02 pm on Oct. 6, 2005)
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Total Posts: 11 | Joined Sep. 2005 | Posted on: 11:24 pm on Sep. 16, 2005 | IP
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FastHiker
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I’m not planning on hiking Half Dome until next year but I figure it isn’t too soon to start training. For endurance, I use a Nordic Track Ski Machine for 80 minutes twice a week. I use a heart rate monitor to keep my pulse at different levels (from 79% - 90%). I had been using the ski machine before deciding to go to Half Dome so I’ve been using it for 8 months now.
I just started doing some exercises for the quads and upper body. My left leg will definitely be ready but I’m not sure about the right one, weak knee. I’ve read that knee problems may be the result of a weak “inner quad”. I have a year to see if strengthening the inner quad makes the knee problem go away. There is a gym at work I plan on using starting next week. I figure the stair climber would be good. In the mean time I’ve been using a poor mans stair climber at home (i.e. a chair). The difference between my legs is incredible. I was using a 20 pound pack while stepping onto an 18” chair. After a few days of this I could step onto the chair 210 times with my left leg before it got tired but only 39 times with the right. Obviously I need to stop using extra weight with my right leg.
The upper body is another story. I have no upper body strength and it’s slow going. Maybe when I start going to the gym at work I’ll see some progress. Using a barbell at home is a pain. LOL, I have the lofty goal of doing 1 chin up or pull up within the next year.
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Total Posts: 260 | Joined Nov. 2004 | Posted on: 7:13 am on Sep. 17, 2005 | IP
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jaydsai
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(Edited by jaydsai at 6:02 pm on Oct. 6, 2005)
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Total Posts: 11 | Joined Sep. 2005 | Posted on: 1:17 pm on Sep. 17, 2005 | IP
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Rix
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Jay,
Like I said, just make sure you give yourself plenty of time. Leave at first light. Consider taking the Muir trail rather than the mist trail for the first leg. It is a slightly longer distance; however you will not fatigue your quads early on granite stairs and you will not risk getting overly chilled or wet as you might on the mist trail.
I still think you should go for it. Good luck!
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Total Posts: 8 | Joined Sep. 2005 | Posted on: 10:10 pm on Sep. 17, 2005 | IP
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FastHiker
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If it weren’t for the cables, I’d try to hike Half Dome right now. Between the day hike to Mississippi lake at Henry Coe and 30 mile hikes around the Santa Cruz Mountains, I’m not concerned about the distance or elevation gain of Half Dome, provided I don’t break an ankle or fall off a cliff. As long as I take my time, I’m not too concerned about the stairs either. I have serious doubts about the cables though. I’ve always found it pretty easy to increase endurance, especially where the legs are involved. I’ve never had much luck increasing strength. Of course I’ve never had a reason to. I guess my feeling was, “why build muscles that I won’t be using?” It’s a little late in the game to be developing upper body strength but I’ll give it a go.
Good luck on the hike.
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Total Posts: 260 | Joined Nov. 2004 | Posted on: 11:13 pm on Sep. 17, 2005 | IP
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Bay Area Hiker Discussion Board
Half Dome
