Half Dome

I was so lucky to be there!
one of the best natural places to be at.

We luckily scored 4 permits for the end of May this year. It’s definitely a tough hike, but TOTALLY worth it. Training is a good idea – but if you wanna wing it, it’ll be doable for someone who can run a half marathon imo.
We followed the map outlined here:
. We started at the Happy Isles trailhead, and took the Mist trail up, but took the John Muir trail on the way down. The Mist trail is steeper and will be an easier trail to go uphill than downhill. John Muir trail is easier on the knees on the way down. Everyone should research Half Dome ahead of time — there are lots of websites describing the experience and checklists of what to pack.
We stayed overnight in Oakhurst, which is about a 1−½ hrs away from the trailhead. Started hiking around 5am and got down around 7pm (stayed at the top for about an hour, and cables took about 1−½ hours to go up/​down –_​-​). There are lots of hiking hacks for climbing Half Dome, but I’ll just name a few of the important ones:
(1) Buy/​rent hiking poles (Sports basement has $ 10-​$ 15 options)
(2) Invest in a 3L water bladder w/​backpack
(3) Wear HIKING SHOES — The rocks are slippery, and it is helpful going up and down the cables if you have good traction.
(4) Bring gloves for climbing the cables at the end (doubling-​up is a good idea). The cables are not flimsy, but if there is someone taking their time ahead of you, you have to wait a while. It helps when you have a good handgrip on the cables.
(5) Pack PB&J sandwiches and trail mix for snacks
(6) Wear and bring moleskin (prevents blisters) and sunblock
The trail is definitely harder going back down, then uphill, but just stick it out, and it’ll be worth it. Take lots of pics! Everyone should hike this at least once!

Gonna join with other reviewers here… Spectacular. nuff said.
Not really, I wish to share my experience from last year. (SEP/​OCT2014)
Arrived a day before and camped out near El Portal, preparing mentally and physically for the hike. Having packed all necessary stuff for tomorrow I called it a day and got my rest.
Lots of huge spiders on the loose but they left me alone in my tent and it was quiet at night with no sound of passing cars on 140.
Early start at 4 am. in the morning, a quick breakfast in the car during the drive to Yosemite Valley and on the trail by about 5 am. Dark and silent with the occasional dance of the flashlights of other hikers on the trail. Not crowded at all.
Note: No permit for Half Dome on me.
As the light grew stronger the more people I see on the trail. Some descending after reaching Vernal Falls, some continuing further to Nevada Falls.
I enjoy it. Some small talk with other hikers to find out their goals for the day. I tag along with a group of ladies which plan to camp out near Nevada Falls and tackle Half Dome the next day. They are packed heavily and therefore move slow, I excuse myself before ditching them and pick up my pace.
Cannot exactly remember times but the hike is beautiful and I do not mind checking the time, I just continue moving.
Meet more people on the trail and bump into one special lady that I tag along with for some time. Their group of 6 shrinked to 4 and that angel offers me her spare permit. I receive a sudden burst of energy and pick up my pace leaving the lady behind with the promise to wait for her at the bottom of Half Dome.
Here I am now, still at the Subdome, the views are amazing. I look at Half Dome and spot tiny hikers on the cables moving slowly up to the top. Wow, at first glance it does not look scary or anything…
I take a long break and wait for the lady to catch up and have a chat with the ranger who checks permits for the last part of the hike.
After waiting for nearly 40 minutes the Ranger gives me the green light to go ahead, he will check with the lady when she arrives… thank you my friend. At this point I just realize what a lucky bastard I am: D
So I continue now on the cables and once at the bottom of the cables a look from the bottom to the top does reveal how challenging this last part really is. Slowly I move up and at the steepest point (roughly about 55°) I get that scary feeling in my knees as I turn around to have a look downwards… Amazing, I continue and reach the top.
People hang out on the slab everywhere, they relax and eat and take photos. Some even take a nap and doze off. The weather is just gorgeous and the views are beyond words to describe. I Take some insane pictures and flirt with death at the edge of the rock… if I only could fly…
More eating and relaxing on the top, kicking off boots and soaking myself in sunlight for nearly two hours.
Time to return now and on the descend I realize how difficult it is… much harder than going up the cables… legs shake and boots tend to slip on the slab. A firm grip on the cables gives me necessary confidence in a secure descend. Painfully slow but safe.
At the bottom I look behind me and up again… Nuts to go up there!
And I bump into the angel lady again excusing myself for not waiting. She waves off my concerns and tells me that she heard from the ranger about me. She also made it to the top while I was resting and relaxing.
After hugs and farewells I leave the lady and make my way down to the valley. Still some hikers going in the opposite direction and to the ones that seem to give up I tell them «Hang in there its not too far anymore»
The last part of the hike through John Muir Trail remains calm. I am exhausted and fade out my surroundings and concentrate on my steps making one last quick pace to finally reach the trailhead.
Finally at Curry Village I check the time… I remember being something like 7:15pm. A quick shower mobilizes last energy sources that carry me into the car and I drive back to El Portal where I fall into a comatose state in my tent… Happy happy happy but tired now… good night.

Hands down one of my favorite hikes! Can’t think of anything not to like about this hike except that the permit to go up the Half Dome cables can be difficult to obtain. The cables are put up around May-​October and permits are based on a lottery system (applications are accepted in March & results are released in April), however, a certain number of tickets are set aside each day while the cables are up. We were lucky that we met a very friendly lady during the hike who helped us to find a family that had extra spots on their permit. The park ranger stationed at the base of the final approach up the dome actually encouraged people to partner up with folks who had extra spots so they don’t go to waste!
The hike is 14 – 16 miles roundtrip and takes you past some pretty stunning views of Vernal and Nevada Falls. I highly recommend starting this hike early because it can get pretty hot during the day. We started just before sunrise with about 3 liters of water each and lots and lots of snacks and energy gu. The steepness of the trail varied from time to time but it’s uphill for the most part. Like any long-​distance hiking trail, your level of fitness will greatly affect how enjoyable the hike will be for you. I do not recall the total elevation gain, but I think this is a moderately difficult hike (compared to a strenuous one) due to the elevation gain over the long distance of travel. Additionally, there are plenty of areas to stop & catch your breath while enjoying some pretty amazing views! Not to mention, we saw plenty of kids and people of all ages complete the hike to the base of the summit. Don’t get discouraged by the distance! A nice surprise awaits you at Vernal Falls where you will be greeted by a nice misty treat.
Advice for going up the cables:
Wear shoes that have good grip at the bottom.
Do not wear your nice gloves, the cables will destroy the outer shell. A pair of garden gloves will work just fine.
Be patient and do your best to allow others to pass if you are going too slow.
There was a pretty big bottle neck when I went up the cables. Apparently there was an older individual who was having a tough time with the elevation and steepness of the climb. To be honest, I’m surprised the National Park Service even allow people to go up the cables without assessing their level of fitness. This can be a dangerous situation given the heat of the summer combined with altitude and sheer steepness of the rock face. The tough part was the fact that you had one line of people on the left coming down the same set of cables and another line of people trying to get up on the right side. Eventually I joined a group of guys who went outside the cables in order to go around the bottle neck and finish the final push to the top (do not recommend).
The Summit was AMAZING! Felt like I was on top of the world! There’s also nothing keeping you from going to the very edge and testing your fear of heights. Words can’t fully describe the experience except that it was literally breathtaking!
The hike down was much much easier. We saw a large group of people hanging out and taking a dip in the Emerald Pools. Such a tempting sight considering the heat! Eventually we got back to the campground late in the afternoon. Highly highly highly recommend this hike, even if you don’t plan to climb to the top of Half Dome. Just the sights and beauty of Yosemite make this a worthy experience.

Best and SCARIEST hike I have ever done! Butbutbut now I feel as if I can do anything!!!~ TIP: If you’re in the bay area, I recommend hiking Mt. Diablo Base to Summit and/​or Big Sur’s Sykes Hot Springs to prepare for Half Dome. IT IS NECESSARY THAT YOU TRAIN FOR THIS BRUTAL, INSANE, & WORTHY HIKE!
My main tip is to get a harness and via ferrata to hook yourself onto the cables! No, it does not help you get up faster or give you super powers — it simply saves your head from cracking open if you accidentally slip. I used it on the way up as well as on the way down. TIP: Climb on the outside left or right side of the cables. It has more grip for your feet for support. The biggest mistake I made was going down in the middle of the two cables like everyone else. My body went into complete shock when I found out how slippery it was! I should have climbed on the outside like I did going up. I know it seems even scarier, but it really isn’t! Give it a try!

A must do hike!
I’ve read a bit about the hike and was pretty excited to do it, both for the challenge and the views up top. I was at the parking lot near Curry Village by 7AM, and at the trailhead by 7:30AM. With my 15-​pound backpack tightly strapped on, I headed off.
The ~7 mile one-​way route, starting at the Mist Trail, is broken up by a series of landmark stops, beginning with Illilouette Fall followed soon by the Vernal Fall Bridge about 0.8 miles in. I refilled my water bottle here and continued onward to the top of Vernal Fall, followed by Nevada Fall. I got lost a bit and had to climb a couple boulders, but hey, I never said spatial orientation is one of my strengths. The misty spray of Vernal Fall was a welcomed cool down. But also as a result of the spray the steps are very slippery, so take it easy if you find yourself here.
By the top of Nevada Fall the trail had been pretty much either steps or uphill inclines. But, at Little Yosemite Valley hikers get a short mile reprieve of flat flat flat land. At the top of Nevada Fall, the trail actually switches from the Mist Trail to the John Muir Trail, which is the route used by mules and horses. Hence all the crap on the trail. Watch your step.
After the relative plateau is another stretch of hills until the trail takes you out of the forested area and into the open blue sky. Another short stretch later is the Sub Dome, which to me sounds pretty ominous. At the base of the Sub Dome is a ranger checking for permits. The Sub Dome is the «hump back» of the Half Dome. The route up it is a series of very narrow switchbacks that sometimes disappears and you have to make your own path by climbing up boulders. It was during this section of the trail where I started seeing people turning back out of fear and anxiety. Since I was carrying a heavy backpack. I tried to keep my back facing the dome so if I fell backwards, it wouldn’t be to my demise. Big tip: don’t look down! At least not unless you’re on steady footing or sitting down.
After making it up the Sub Dome, the final ascent to Half Dome was in full view. And boy, it was quite the sight. The 400-​foot vertical climb up consists of nearly 70 pairs of poles anchored into the side of Half Dome with wooden boards connecting each pair of poles (so you can stand and rest at each pair). The first couple pole-​pairs are on a low incline but they very very very quickly turn steep to anywhere, I’d guess, between 45 – 60 degrees upwards. While a number of people have sadly died during this segment, I reminded myself that many of the tragic deaths were likely preventable (e.g. those climbing in a rush, when the cables /​Half Dome were wet, lightening was imminent, etc.). If the last sentence didn’t come through, do NOT climb if there’s ANY chance of rain or lightening. Go with the weatherman on this one.
There’s a pile of gloves at the base for anyone who didn’t bring a pair. Although upper body strength is important here, so is leg strength as that helped propelled me forward. I climbed up like I was rappelling upwards, which allowed me to use the entirety of my arms to pull me up. I saw other people put one hand on each cable, which feels safer but it also means they’re relying more on their smaller pectoral muscles to go up. And obviously shoes with good traction is a must.
The incline decreased during the last few meters of the ascent. It was low enough that I just ran up it so I could more quickly find a place to sit and rest. Four hours later, I was finally at the top (elevation: ~8,880 feet)!

Well that was really tiring…
Hiked in late 8/​2015, highs in the 80’s and sunny. When we got to the top, I remember thinking to myself, «all these people writing reviews are crazy, that wasn’t very hard». But then I hiked back down and my legs were very angry with me. Its a long hike, but certainly not impossible as people make it seem (I saw people in their 50 – 60’s completing this hike).
I hike often in Shenandoah NP near where I live and have gone 10+ miles without issues before. But you really feel the 4800′ ascent in your legs as you descend the mountain. Lots of reviews already, so I’ll concentrate on describing our experience on the Mist Trail versus the John Muir Trail (JMT). Bring lots of water (5L was barely enough), wear hiking shoes (people in tennis shoes on the cables looked pretty depressed), wear full finger gloves, and wear sunscreen. It took us 13 hours.
Mist Trail vs. the JMT
For the majority of the trail, you’ll only have one choice of trail, but for a small section, you have the choice between the Mist Trail and the John Muir Trail. The difference is easy, the Mist Trail ascends steeply, mostly granite steps and switchbacks, and ascends both Vernal and Nevada Falls basically from bottom to top (its awesome). The JMT ascends more gently through wooded switchbacks with a couple nice views of the valley and a nice view of Nevada falls as you approach from the opposite side of the Mist Trail. Its also a full mile longer than the Mist Trail. At the top of Nevada Falls, the trails merge and you basically have one path to follow the rest of the way (JMT to Half Dome Trail).
On the way up, I highly suggest the Mist Trail, Vernal Falls is beautiful and you miss it entirely if you take the JMT. On the way down, you have a choice, take the Mist Trail and subject your tired knees to steep granite steps, or take the JMT and subject your psyche to a full 1.1 miles of extra hiking. But its not quite that easy, because you make your choice after you’ve already descended ~5 miles from the top of half dome. So at the moment you make your choice, you are choosing either the steep, granite Mist Trail with only 2.9 miles until the end, or the gentle, wooded, endless switchbacks of the JMT, with a full 4.0 miles until the end.
So on the way down, you basically need to measure how badly your knees hurt versus how badly your soul will suffer hiking an extra 1.1 miles in the woods. We sided with our knees and took the JMT and were happy we did.
Quotes heard during our hike:
«Why did you bring me to death mountain?»
«I can’t believe the National Park Service actually allows people to do this.»
«If this hike doesn’t end soon we’re eating (name censored).»

Eines der bekanntesten Fotomotive im Yosemite Nationalpark ist sicherlich der Half Dome mit seiner Halbkugelform, der sich im Yosemite Valley befindet. Seit den berühmten Aufnahmen von Ansel Adams ist er das Wahrzeichen des Parks.
Am bequemsten und besten lässt er sich vom Glacier Point und vom Olmstedt Point fotografieren. Er hat eine Höhe von 2.693 m und besteht aus dem massiven Gestein Granodiorit. Seine eigentümliche Form hat er durch die eiszeitlichen Gletscher erhalten.
Für Kletterer mit guter Kondition kann der Half Dome über einen 25 km langen Weg in 8 — 10 Stunden erklommen werden. Die Besteigung des Berggipfels ist seit 2010 stark reglementiert für 300 Personen pro Tag, die sich vorher registrieren müssen und vor der Besteigung am Subdome kontrolliert werden. Vorher waren es ca. 1.200 Personen pro Tag, die für große Staus beim Half Dome sorgten.
Das letzte Stück mit 47 Prozent Steigung kann nur mit Hilfe von Stahlseilen erklommen werden. Dafür wird man oben mit einem atemberaubenden Blick belohnt der 1400 Meter senkrecht ins Yosemite-​Tal geht. Profis klettern gerne über den Vorsprung, der wie eine Schirmmütze aussieht und «The Visor» genannt wird.
Aufgrund seiner Popularität wird der bekannte Berg auch gerne in der Werbung eingesetzt. So kann man die charakteristische Form bei der Outdoormarke «The North Face» wiederfinden und Apple wirbt bei seinem Betriebssystem Yosemite mit dem Half Dome.
Für mich einer der schönsten Berge der Welt.

This is an amazing and strenuous day hike. I’m not incredibly athletic, nor am I an experienced hiker but I managed to get through it on a hot August day. If you’re reading this and thinking about or planning to do this hike, here are my tips:
1) Bring at least 5 liters of water but it’s a much better idea to bring 6 liters. I brought 5 plus a gatorade and I nearly ran out and had to save my water for the end. I drank through my entire 3 liter Camelbak before even reaching Sub Dome and everyone in my group who brought 4 liters of water ran out with about 4 miles left to go in the hike. It was pretty warm when I hiked, with a high in the valley of 93 degrees that day but since I started early, had shade, and gain elevation, it never got that hot on the trail. But still, bring/​drink plenty of water.
2) Invest in hiking boots. It was pathetic watching people slide down the granite on the cables because they had on Nike’s. It’s not safe and you’ll have a better time with hiking boots.
3) If you’re not sure about your hiking abilities, start early. Like, start at 5AM or earlier. This could be a 10 – 12 hour hike but it can easily take 14 – 16 hours or more, especially if you’re in a large group.
4) If the cables make you uncomfortable, don’t do them. There’s no shame in opting out and just soaking in the views on Sub Dome, which is equally frightening and probably more difficult to ascend. The cables become dangerous when people are frightened and create a bottleneck. So please, if you’re truly scared, don’t go up.
5) When descending the cables, go down backwards. Seriously. It took me like 5 minutes to go down but when I was ascending, I was watching people fearfully going down at sloth speed facing forwards.
6) Prepare. A lot. Do as many hikes as you can in the months leading up to this. Try 15 mile hikes with incline. If you’re not a big hiker, you’ve probably never done anything like this so do this best to prepare your legs. There are massive stairs going up both waterfalls and once you’ve made it to the top, there’s really no break from the incline except through Little Yosemite Valley. And then you have more incline and hell. Once you make it through that, Sub Dome and Half Dome are waiting for you. It’s not a 16 mile hike of walking. It’s like 10 miles of walking up/​down steep stairs or sharp inclines. It’s brutal.

I have never heard of Half-​Dome and I am so glad I «accidently» had the opportunity to go! I’ve heard many people say that the permits are sometimes through the lottery system and that some had to apply about a month ahead to get accepted.
But geez, that 14 hour hike was extremely beautiful and made all the leg pain worth it lol. The experience is painful and terrifying, and nothing can prepare you for it other than going through the experience yourself. In the end, though, it’s worth the effort.
Getting through the sub-​dome was the most difficult for me. I’m only 5’1″ and I felt like I was lunging all the way up. Looking at the cables seemed scary when you’re looking up, but once you’re on it, it isn’t too bad. If it makes it any better, once you’re on the cables, you’re only just as fast as the person in front of you.
The sheer joy of making it up to the top is incredible. The 360 degree views of mountains and trees is breathtaking. Most importantly, knowing that you completed the strenuous hike is definitely something to brag about at work and friends. Just kidding. No, I’m not.
Two Cents:
1. Leave early and sleep early: We left at 4:30 am, got to the start of the trail at 5:30am, and ended around 6:30am. Getting there early means less traffic and the weather isn’t too brutal… yet.
2. Bring and wear the right gear!: Wear the right shoes (I wore those damn nike free runs and my feet were killing me!) Don’t forget the gloves for the cables! There are some underneath the rock when you get there but just saying…
3. Stay Hydrated, bring HELLA water and some snacks!: Want to keep going? Stay hydrated. Bring enough for yourself and someone that might need a boost/​lift.
4. Don’t do anything stupid: Just saying… I know there are some «wanna-​be supermen/​woman» out there.
I wish I trained for the hike… but since it came to me as a last minute opportunity and I accomplished it, I have nothing to complain about!
Yeaaaaa… I did it! :)

What a world class hike! This trek is riddled with towering pines, powerful water falls, awe inspiring views, eye catching wild life, and scenes that will be remembered for a life time.
I went to yosemite this past weekend and was eager to set off on this journey. I had an amazing experience that I highly recommend everyone to do.
PREPARATION:
PERMIT: Apply for a permit ahead of time. If you know far in advance when you will go, the applications are open in march time but if you don’t, you can apply for the lottery 2 days ahead of time. They accept only about 300 people per day to hike so you should have a permit. Unfortunately I didn’t get the permit so I decided to go without one. To my good fortune, it was a very light day where there were not many people and no ranger on duty so I risked getting a $ 275 and getting caught and just went for it anyway. Luckily I got to the top and back down with no hassle and no one asking for a permit. I would have been willing to pay the fee even if I did get caught because I’d gladly pay for the view and the experience in exchange for a little money. Anyhow, next time I’ll plan way in advance so I have peace of mind when I climb.
EQUIPMENT: (day hike)
–backpack
–gallon and a half of water
–snack bars
–gloves for the cables
–carabiner and harness
–good quality hiking shoes
–sun block, hat, sun glasses
–walking stick
–hiking permit
–camera
FITNESS:
This is a long and strenuous hike. Its about 14 – 16 miles depending on if you take the Mist Trail or the John Muir Trail and it’ll take 10 – 12 hours. A good portion of the trail is stairs and steep inclines and is very challenging. I RECOMMEND making sure you train for it by exercising and going on shorter hikes and building up to it. Its not something you can go conquer if you’ve been a couch potato for the last 5 years.
TRAIL:
On the actual day of the hike, I left about 6am and got back to Camp Curry at 6pm. I got to the top of half dome at 1pm via John Muir Trail. The hike is everything you could want and more. Challenging and beautiful. Every step of the way is gorgeous and the trail is well marked and maintained from beginning to end. I saw a deer along the way whilst some others I went up with saw a huge black bear. The views near the top are some of the most beautiful I’ve seen and its no wonder that the trail is world famous. Along the way up, I literally heard about 10 different languages being spoken. I guess the park attracts world travelers and I’m not surprised.
The cables near the top look very intimidating but once you actually get to them, they are not as challenging as they look. There are cables that run to the top with rungs to place your feet about every 10 feet. The cables are a bit narrow so only two people can stand side by side at a time. One person can be going up and one can be going down. On the day I went, there weren’t that many people so it took about 15 minutes but I did get slowed down by some people ahead of me. I borrowed a carabiner and attached it to my belt on my way up so I had a little more peace of mind when I climbed. There were a good amount of people who did it without a harness but it would make it a little more nerve racking especially when you’re already fatigued after hiking 8 miles uphill.
Its worth every amount of effort to get to the top!
In the words of the great Shia LeBouf, «DO IT!»

This is a long overdue review.
We set our camp at White Wolf just north of Yosemite Valley. Even during the summer, I recommend that you bring sleeping bags because it gets chilly at night. The high elevation is a bit of an adjustment but you’ll be able to acclimate yourself to it in no time.
I hiked up to the hop of Half Dome mountain when I was dating my husband summer of 2009. During this time no permit was required.
When you’re making your last trek up the cables, you’re only as fast as the person ahead of you, so I’m very happy to hear that you now must have a permit. This helps to weed out the massive crowds especially when making the final ascent up the cables to the top of the mountain.
Half Dome was a bucket list check off for me and it was the most challenging, exciting and rewarding hike of my life. This hike is not for the faint of heart. It was difficult, but the sense of accomplishment and the absolutely breath taking views was worth the grueling all-​day and night hike. I would definitely do this hike with my husband again, but this time with our daughter when she’s old enough.
Ok, back to the review. My husband is the ultimate outdoor enthusiast and we planned for weeks leading up to this trip. He bought me caribiner clips from REI so that I could clip myself to the cables upon our ascent up the mountain. It’s funny because during the entire hike he kept telling me that if I wanted to go back we could stop at anytime. However after many hours already into the hike, I was determined to finish it. I’m glad I had a patient partner because I stopped numerous times to enjoy the scenery, take photos as well as plenty of breaks.

My rookie mistake was that I didn’t carry as much water as I should have because I ran out of water towards the last hour of our trek back down. Luckily, my husband was more prepared and he was my saving grace.
My tips:
–Start the hike early to avoid the crowds
–Train for the hike. The cables require a lot of upper body strength.
–Invest in a great pair of hiking shoes! Ones with lots of traction. I was lucky to find myself a pair of Nike ACG (all-​condition gear) hiking shoes at Nordstrom’s Rack for half the price. So check there for your hiking shoes! Or go to REI for all of your outdoor sporting needs.
–Bring plenty of water and healthy snacks. I would suggest purchasing one of those Camelbak water carriers and bringing some extra bottles just in case and Gatorade or Powerade.)
–Caribiner clips. (My husband didn’t use any. So if you’re an advance hiker, then you can forgo the clips)
–Hiking Gloves for pulling yourself up the cables (Note: You can also rummage through the pile of used gloves left by hikers at the bottom of the cables.)
We began the hike at 8am and reached to the peak at about 2:30pm. We spent about 45 minutes taking pictures on the top of Half Dome and didn’t get back down until around 7:30pm.

First things first, you must have a permit! This is what you are told when in fact as excited as I was that we had one, after both applying for them, my boyfriends was approved but no one checked for a permit when we arrived at the cables at 325P. We had every intention of starting this hike at 5A but were pretty beat from the day before so slept in until 8A and didn’t get on the trail until around 10A.
We packed a bunch of snacks and I carried over 3 liters of water while my boyfriend carried 5 liters on him and other items we’d need.
Our hike to Vernal Falls happened quickly. This took about an hour. Up next, Nevada Falls which took about another hour. This was when we hit our 3^rd set of restrooms, so drinking plenty of water to hydrate beforehand is fine since you’ll have a few different restroom options.
The next 3.5 hours seemed to pass at a fairly decent pace. We continuously stopped for snacks, water and sunscreen reapplication and at one point saw a Ranger who we asked how far out were we and if we’d make it in time to get back to the Valley floor by dark. The ranger said yes as long as we «keep moving» which then became my mantra for the day. «Keep Moving». I’d suggest only stopping only in the shade to prevent further exhaustion from the sun/​heat.
We asked various people along the trail how much longer and these answers varied. I won’t do this in the future. This hike becomes a bit mental and the last thing you need is someone telling you another 90min when in your head you’ll be there in 20.
We happened upon a black mama bear and her cub along the trail at one point and this was definitely one of the highlights of this trip. I’ve never seen a bear in the wilderness and it was the coolest experience ever!
Once we hit sub dome and the stairs up to the cables I couldn’t have been more excited. It’s like the last few miles of a marathon when adrenaline kicks in and you know the finish line is near although with this hike, the cables may be your finish line but you still have another 5 hours of hiking to do to get back to the Valley.
When reaching the cables, fear and excitement kicked in. I had more snacks, water and reapplied sunscreen then moved onto selecting the gloves that would be responsible for saving my life. I’ve never chosen any article that would be so important, and when I went skydiving it was tandem and therefore I wasn’t responsible for our chute opening. Now, this was all on me! I’d put in the work for this moment and selecting a good pair of gloves was crucial for success. My palms are sweating now just remembering this experience and they will definitely be sweating in your gloves.
I began climbing before my boyfriend had reached the cables but knew he wasn’t far behind. I looked down a couple of times to ensure he was on his way and eventually saw him headed up. This definitely provided me with some relief and confidence to continue my climb. At one point someone coming down asked if I wanted a «tip». Of course I said yes and he told me to climb using my feet a lot more than upper body arm strength, this made a big difference because my arms, wrists and sweaty palms needed some balance. I then switched the focus into my hiking boots a bit more, still taking about four steps in between the wooden planks and reaching for the tops of the poles at each plank to steady myself with. After what seemed like the scariest climb of my life, and thinking I’d slip and barrel down this mountain taking everyone not harnessed in with me I had made it!
The best and scariest feeling all at once. The moment you ask yourself how the hell do you get a helicopter ride down and realize you were not just dropped off for a dream date and you’ll actually have to descend down the very same cables if you ever want to get down. That moment, may very well have been the scariest part of the entire thing but heading down turned out to not be so bad. Bad! but not as bad as it was in my head.
The hike back to the valley floor passed as swiftly as it could have. We tried to take minimal breaks to make it before dark but down hill is tougher than uphill for me and the experience eventually caught up with me and things got a little shaky for awhile. I had some sugar and a lot of water and pulled through it but gosh every step down granite stairs was painful at this point.
I told my boyfriend I’d marked this off my list and would not do it again but by the next afternoon told him I have to do it again for a couple photos I didn’t capture on this trip to the top.
We made it back to the valley floor by 845P, the views from the top of half dome were impressive but what makes this most worth it is the fact that I accomplished it! My boyfriend had to head down the cables halfway up and never met me at the top. He says he can’t do the things he did in his 20’s when he originally went up. I know he can, so hopefully another time we can make it together!

I have hiked Half Dome twice. The first time I didn’t summit, but the second time I did. As someone who has experienced both failure and success on Half Dome, let me tell you – this hike is BRUTAL. If anyone tells you «It’s not that bad!» just punch them in the face. Hiking 4800 feet in elevation over eight miles is no joke, and that’s not even counting the climb at the end.
I have to steal a line from Melissa M from her review of Mt Whitney: reviewing this hike is like reviewing childbirth. That metaphor is spot on. The experience is painful and terrifying, and nothing can prepare you for it other than going through the experience yourself. In the end, though, it’s worth the effort.
I won’t belabor the details of the first few miles of the hike, as that is the Mist Trail, and you can read the reviews for that section under its own listing. The Mist Trail to the top of Nevada Falls is a glorious hike, and if you feel completely exhausted at that point, you might as well stop there, because the remaining Half Dome trail doesn’t get any easier. Getting to the top of Nevada Falls is a worthy accomplishment in and of itself.
But if you DO continue on… you keep going. And going. And going. The trail winds its way up and up through the forest until it feels like it will never end and you have used every ounce of energy. At about the point where despair sinks in, you step out of the forest onto granite, and the views take away what little breath you have left. The moment when the Sub-​Dome and cables come into view is really… well…it’s a moment. My guide called it «Motivation Point.» I call it, «Are You Fucking Kidding Me?! Point.» In all seriousness, many people turn around at the base of the Sub-​Dome after seeing with their own eyes what lies ahead.
Because if you carry on, you are about to climb OVER 400 STEPS straight up the side of a granite rock with no railing or handholds of any kind and a drop on either side that you REALLY don’t want to think about. Before you reach the top of the Sub-​Dome, though, the steps end and you have to traverse the granite slope on your own (this part is known as «The Slabs»). Many people claim that the Sub-​Dome is the most difficult part of the hike (though I totally disagree). Once you crest the dome, you cross a wide saddle, and the cables lie before you.
There are lots of nice places to sit on the saddle and near the base of the cables, and you will see lots of people here hanging out on the boulders and taking advantage of every inch of shade. Why are these people hanging out here? you might wonder, instead of at the top? Well, that’s because the second they get a close-​up view of the cables, many people just sit down and give up. I mean they just take one look and give a great big «NOPE!» If you’re wondering why someone would hike all this way just to give up at the last 400 feet, then you have obviously never seen the cables.
60 poles on each side hold up the cables that are your lifeline to climb the side of Half Dome. Most BUT NOT ALL of the poles anchor a wooden slat that allows you a place to rest. These slats are simple 2x4s – that is, you have two inches of width on which to rest your feet in between sections of cable. The rest is up to you. You have to pull yourself up that very, very, very, steep rock, polished smooth by decades of hikers, with only a steel cable and wobbly poles to grip to prevent yourself from a thousand-​foot fall. I guarantee that no matter how good your shoes, you will slip at some point. Everybody does. It is NOT a good feeling.
Does it seem like I’m trying to scare you away from the hike? I’m not. It’s just important that everyone who attempts it goes in prepared so that they don’t end up panicking. Every time I have been on the cables, I have gotten stuck for a long time while somebody below or above me has stopped the line, clutching a pole or both cables, unable to will themselves to move due to the overwhelming, pants-​shitting fear they are experiencing.
Do not judge these people too harshly. Panic is a natural and rational reaction to hanging off of a four-​thousand-​foot rock. In fact, you should be especially kind to them and offer them soft words of encouragement. You should do this, not only because it makes you a good and kind person, but because your own safety depends on the behavior of those around you. Help each other stay calm. Help each other succeed.
When you DO get to the top, it is WORTH all of the effort and the fear. The summit itself is not scary at all. Of course, you can walk out to the edge and dangle over if you want a thrill, but most people just kick back and soak in their victory. There is no way around it… you have accomplished something great, and that is an incredible feeling.
Here is the good advice that I heard from many people regarding this hike:
Trust your shoes. Trust the cables. Trust yourself.
If you can do this, you will make it.