Yosemite Hiking - Half Dome?
Apr 25th, 1999 | 12:09 PM
#1
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Yosemite Hiking - Half Dome?
My wife and I will be in Yosemite early July and are considering the Half Dome hike. Have read reaching summit requires "cables" for last several hundred yards. Has anyone done this? How difficult/dangerous is it? My wife is "petite" and not sure about arm strength etc. required to do this.
Apr 25th, 1999 | 02:19 PM
#4
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Hi Guy:
Yes, I've climbed Half Dome four times. Start very early in the morning and give yourself about eight hours if you're in top shape and ten to twelve if in moderate shape. I would not advise anyone who is not in good physical shape or afraid of heights to attempt it.
Bring as much water as you can carry -- we bring three or four liters per person. If you run out of water up there you're out of luck unless have a purifier or a good samaritan who will give you water (as happened to me once).
The cables are not for the faint of heart. I've seen many people reach the bottom of the dome, look up at the cables and refuse to go further. I was also once stuck behind a woman who froze in fear halfway up the dome and endangered everyone because they had to climb around her -- you can't just hang on forever. You stop and start many times and have to step to one side as people are descending. Know your own strength and your physical abilities. There are thin metal plates bolted to the rock as footholds, but you need strength in you arms to pull yourself up the cables. The scariest part for me is descending the cables from the top of the dome. You have to go over the edge holding on to them and you cannot initially even see the ground!
Gloves are a must, and as nasty as this sounds, if you forget them there are a pile of old, discarded gloves at the base of the dome. You just go over and pick a pair that fits, then put them back when you'e done. Gross, but the first time I climbed the cables I didn't think about gloves and that icky pile saved me.
I have many photos of our hikes to Half Dome, including photos of the cables, so if you're interested, e-mail me and I will scan some for you. This seemed to help my sister before she did it the first time -- she knew what to expect.
Good luck!
Yes, I've climbed Half Dome four times. Start very early in the morning and give yourself about eight hours if you're in top shape and ten to twelve if in moderate shape. I would not advise anyone who is not in good physical shape or afraid of heights to attempt it.
Bring as much water as you can carry -- we bring three or four liters per person. If you run out of water up there you're out of luck unless have a purifier or a good samaritan who will give you water (as happened to me once).
The cables are not for the faint of heart. I've seen many people reach the bottom of the dome, look up at the cables and refuse to go further. I was also once stuck behind a woman who froze in fear halfway up the dome and endangered everyone because they had to climb around her -- you can't just hang on forever. You stop and start many times and have to step to one side as people are descending. Know your own strength and your physical abilities. There are thin metal plates bolted to the rock as footholds, but you need strength in you arms to pull yourself up the cables. The scariest part for me is descending the cables from the top of the dome. You have to go over the edge holding on to them and you cannot initially even see the ground!
Gloves are a must, and as nasty as this sounds, if you forget them there are a pile of old, discarded gloves at the base of the dome. You just go over and pick a pair that fits, then put them back when you'e done. Gross, but the first time I climbed the cables I didn't think about gloves and that icky pile saved me.
I have many photos of our hikes to Half Dome, including photos of the cables, so if you're interested, e-mail me and I will scan some for you. This seemed to help my sister before she did it the first time -- she knew what to expect.
Good luck!
