Travel Story Short

Hiking HALF DOME

Half dome

Gmaps

YOSEMITE

Half Dome alltrails Open late May- October

Difficulty: 15miles roundtrip- REAL hard. Takes 10-14hrs  

Trailhead @ Happy isles: Where John Muir and Mist falls trail begin

Transport

  • Parking: Yosemite Valley Trailhead Parking. Backup- mirror lake parking 
  • Shuttle: Stop#16 Happy Isles. Starts at 7am
    • Not recommended, you should start hike earlier 

PERMIT

REQUIRED, Hard to get.. Two ways to get permits: Day hiker and wilderness

1.Day hiker permit (click here)

-Lottery March 1-March 31.
-Results in April        
–Application here  

2.Wilderness permit (click here)

-Permit season: April- October
-Applications start November
Click the page link, too much to fit
– Camp closer to half dome night b4

FYI

  • Gear: GLOVES (chains)!! trek poles, Headlamp, camelback 
    • Shoes with tread- granite is slippery
  • If starting at happy isles start before sunrise- bring a lot of water! 
  • People have died on this hike 
  • Watch out for weather, if Thunderstorms you’re stuck up at the top 

THE HIKE

  • From Trailhead take either trail: JMT or Mist trail
    • JMT is easier & Mist trail views not great in the dark
  • Both End up at Nevada falls- Then on to lower Yosemite valley campground 
  • Camp with wilderness permits, LAST BATHROOM (inside campground)
  • Then most of hike: easy, gradual incline path through forest- goes FOREVER
  • Sub dome- permit check and a nice warm up right before half dome 
  • Quarter mile, 600ft elevation of straight incline on granite  

—HALF DOME CHAINS: Check for incoming clouds/storm- do not go up if so—

  • Super steep incline on very slippery granite surface 
  • Chains on rods drilled into surface. Wooden blocks steps for traction 
  • Same way up and down= move to the side at times for people to pass 
  • Easiest to go down backwards on the way down 
  • Some use “via-ferrata” clips for extra safety but its a bit overkill.
  •  Top is very open- take all the pics
    • take a break but watch out for incoming storms don’t want to get stuck! 
  • Best picture: out on ledge while someone takes photo from other side

HIKING PICS

NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOUR INSTAGRAM

HERES A VIDEO HIGHLIGHT YOU DIDN’T ASK FOR

Leave a Reply