Climbing half dome was well worth the exertion, for the views alone!

Located in Yosemite Valley, Half Dome is so-called for its distinct shape.  Climbing half dome is 14 miles in total and to reach the top you need to follow cables, which track a route alongside the dome.

Glacier Point, Cloud’s Rest and Mist Trails are the three main routes and will take you between ten and sixteen hours.

Setting off

Climbing half dome started by waking up in the pitch darkness at 4am, we made our way out of the campsite. Out of the the three routes, we decided to tackle the Mist Trail as many people had told us that it was an extremely special walk and we wanted to see it for ourselves. We started walking at 4.30am. On the first part of the walk, we encountered big drop offs and the path was really steep.

A couple of miles in, we arrived at Vernal Falls, which had incredible views of the valley floor below. Here was the last point we could collect clean drinking water and use flushing toilets. The fairy-tale-like steps leading up to the waterfall, really did make it feel like we were entering a magical kingdom.

Drenched and consumed by mist, it was hard to take pictures. However, be patient and get to the top of the falls, as that point is a great place for photos.

The Mid Section

In the mid section, there is only a slight incline, so the trek is much more easy going. The sequoia trees hinted at what was to come, and sometimes we could see Half Dome teasing us through the giant branches.

The next part of the route, heading up to Sub Dome (the stage before Half Dome), was grueling. Exposed to the sunlight, it would strain even an extreme climber. Once you arrive at Sub Dome, you will see a pile of gloves which people have donated. Make use of people’s generosity and grab some there (you really do see people looking out for each other, in terms giving water and just generally being nice.)

The Insane Cables

At the start of the cables, it seemed like the journey would go on forever, like it was ascending up to heaven. Remember to be careful when it’s busy, as people will be going really slow and you may want to pass them, so maybe just wait until the crowds thin out.

At one point during the middle part of the cables it was virtually vertical, and I must say I felt like a superhero, as though we were defying the laws of gravity with effortless ease.

Descending

I would recommend going down the Muir Trail, as the scenery is different to the other routes. If you only have a small amount of time in Yosemite, it’s definitely worth exploring. Even though it adds an extra 1.5 miles to the hike, the descent is more gradual and you’ll get a great view from the back of Half Dome.

Things To Consider:

Don’t leave the backpacks as rodents will chew through them. Secure water packs, as they could fall.

We brought gloves for extra grip. They have gloves there, but they are well worn and moldy.

It is crucial to bring enough water. Rangers sometimes check that you have enough.

It does get very congested and everyone needs to apply for a permit to climb Half Dome, so you may not get accepted on your first application. We were lucky and got a permit straight away, however one chap told us that he had to apply over 100 times before he got his permit!

How the permits work:

Pre-season lottery – Apply in March

• There are 300 day passes, 225 day hiker passes, and 75 backpacker passes given out daily

Daily lottery – the odds of getting a pass:

• Weekdays 30% and weekends 12% (nearly triple you chances on weekdays)
• The best times are in September and October, because of school term dates
• The penalty for not having a permit is 5000$ or six months in jail
• It costs 15$ for the chance to get a permit

When rangers stop you, you will need to show them a permit and photo ID to verify yourself.

There are two rules on the Half Dome.

• No camping on the top
• No climbing without a permit

Apart from that, there are no rules, including no age limits. Park rangers don’t check your fitness so bear this in mind as it is an arduous walk.