Half Dome Yosemite

B

Bob6794

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Apr 21, 2013
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Figure I ask this question since hiking is a bit more out of my element. One of the girls I know is trying to get me to hike with her more and in fact I've been hiking with her in the past and did something along 8-10mi I think as the longest hike. But I've only been on enough hikes that I can still count them on my hands and in August she is planning on hiking up Half Dome in Yosemite which is about 16mi from what I've heard from her. What can I expect from such a hike, and any advice from those of you who are more experienced in hiking?

Oh and as for physical fitness I am attempting to get back into shape but I expect all bets are off once elevation and the weight of what I am carrying is added in.
 
sounds like a great catch, put a ring on her finger! Most women want nothing to do with hiking especially 16 miles!
 
In worst case you will spit your lungs out.

Do not worry, it wont kill you. Just limit the weight.
 
My wife and I hiked to the top of Half Dome about five years ago. It's definitely an all-day affair! This is a very popular hike, so there is a lot of on-line info to study. Be prepared and you will have a great time!

Jeff
 
Good link BOSS. 4800 foot elevation gain, 8800 ft summit, 16 miles? That's not exactly what I'd call a beginner hike. Good thing it's not til August, you have time to train. Load a day pack and start climbing some smaller hills. Make sure you have good boots and a hydration pack/water bottles. Good luck, you'll make it.
 
i did that hike, were i to do it again i would take 2 days instead of trying to cram it all into just one.take a water filter with you, so you dont have to pack the 3 gallons you are going to drink. its not the 16 miles that will get to you its the 4800 ft. elvation gain that takes its toll. the last 400 feet is a mother if you have been hiking all morning.still its a great hike and i hope to do it again. i did this hike at 52 and at least 40 lbs over weight.so you will make it.good well broken in shoes are a must as is a good hat.pack as light as you can and check the forcast only the foolish would try that last 400 feet if the rock is wet.enjoy
 
I've heard the last bit of the hike up the cables are a very bad idea in bad weather. Fortunately I have a nice pair of lightweight boots well broken in. The hat recommendation is something I didn't even think of, and now that I think about it that sounds like something I definitely should do. I pick up a water filter or water purifying tablets as that sounds like a good idea, though considering how much water I drink I probably still up end carrying 3gallons of water just in case, dehydration will get to me long before the weight of the backpack from my experience. But I try to trim off the weight where I can though I will probably still be looking at a good 30-40lb's for my backpack from a guess due to water as my experience with dehydration it's no fun and I'd rather play it safe and I can deal with a heavier pack. Due to my build I can fortunately handle heavier weight than most people, it's stamina that will get me which I am working on.

Guess I will learn the hard way what the high elevation will do on a hike. I guess I have to bring a camera so I have an excuse to stop to rest.

Thanks for the link and all the tips. Right now I have to get ready for a short 4mi hike I am going with her today and it looks like it's going to be a nice day today.

SubaruSTi said:
sounds like a great catch, put a ring on her finger! Most women want nothing to do with hiking especially 16 miles!
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A friend who I haven't seen in awhile, not dating her so we can't call her a great catch.
 
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It took me about 13 hours to do the 16 mile round trip. Recommended gear: sun screen, a wide brimmed hat, gloves for the cables, trekking poles, a gallon of water or more, iodine tablets, and food. That's what I would take of I were to do it again.
 
New member post here. I've climbed to the top half a dozen or so times, always when the cables were down though. Route wise I'd take the Mis Trail up and the John Muir down, adds a mile extra but you avoid the granite steps when fatigued. In August there will be massive crowds, be prepared. I'd leave well before dawn just to get ahead of the masses. Also hit up the Loft eatery afterwards, best brick pizza around. Let me know if you need any more info
 
Done it three times. Start at dawn or earlier, good footwear, bring plenty of water and snacks.
 
Thanks again for all the advice, I fortunately already have good footwear, gloves, hat, and a few other things. Though I think I pass on the trekking poles, despite the fact think it help I think it would annoy me. When the time comes I look into the routes your suggesting TomJonesCA, and you have my attention when you say best brick pizza I may have to try to talk the people I am going with into that.

As a side note did the 4mi hike easily. We tried to do a 6-7mi hike today but that got cut short sadly so that is postponed till next week. I must admit hiking is quite enjoyable.
 
SubaruSTi said:
sounds like a great catch, put a ring on her finger! Most women want nothing to do with hiking especially 16 miles!
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This! My GF loves hiking and I think it's a blessing. If my GF asked me to hike half dome I'd seriously she'd a tear...
 
Here's a hiker training hint. Train with a heavy load in the pack. For the weight don,t use wood or bricks or boots etc, use big drink bottles or soda bottles filled with water. At room temperature, one litre of water is one kilogram. After a few miles and if you get tired, lighten the load by emptying out some bottles. Simple stuff.
(Um, sorry I don't understand gallons etc.)
 
Being involved in an active scout troop gave me the opportunity to do many lengthy high elevation dayhikes and backpackings. I will admit my current stamina isn't nearly as good as when I did swim, but as long as you pace yourself, hydrate yourself, and only carry what you NEED, there should be no issue. I personally have not done half dome, but I have done many high sierra backpackings.

Hiking is indeed really fun, and you feel quite accomplished when you summit or complete a difficult hike.
 
My wife and I visited Yosemite on our honeymoon, unfortunately the wrong time of year for Half Dome. A coworker went in August a year or two ago and he left for the hike very early in the morning and packed LOTS of water. He said he and his friends ran into quite a few people who were out of water, dehydrated, etc.
 
Moyenne said:
Here's a hiker training hint. Train with a heavy load in the pack. For the weight don,t use wood or bricks or boots etc, use big drink bottles or soda bottles filled with water. At room temperature, one litre of water is one kilogram. After a few miles and if you get tired, lighten the load by emptying out some bottles. Simple stuff.
(Um, sorry I don't understand gallons etc.)
Click to expand...

Strangely enough this is what I am started doing from the first hike I went on with her which was a 4mi hike. I use water bottles since they fit quite well into the laptop pouch of backpacks and from past experience doing this with a weight sucks and is hard to secure down properly so it's comfortable, plus it doubles as well water when you get thirsty. 1gallon = 128oz = 8pounds (16oz per pound), I actually was doing the math to this a little while ago for this exact same reason. I am thinking about picking up some of the 50oz smart waters to use their bottles as I may be lucky enough to fit 4 of them vertically in that laptop pouch plus the one 16.9oz bottle on the side would equal a minimum weight of roughly 13.5lb of water plus other stuff so I probably be looking at 20lb's to start out with. The way I look at it is to slowly get used to weight so it's not quite a shock to me if I do end up tackling this hike.

As for pacing myself, that I may not have much of an issue doing as it seems I may be hiking with a group and besides me I am under the impression there are only 1-2 others who like walking fast and I tend to like to stick with the group so I have people to talk to. Though this is only what I've seen from hiking with that group 1 time and from what she has told me. I try to slim down the pack to what I need instead of what I want, though I imagine water will be the main thing weighing me down as after my first trip up Mission Peak having ran out of water before hitting the top and after taking a lot of side trails on the way up when it was insanely hot out I tend to go overkill in that department now. That level of dehydration and heat exhaustion was no fun, I am impressed my friend didn't have to carry me back the last mile.
 
Well, just a reminder of what happens at this park, there was just a massive rock slide a few hours ago closing the Rancheria trail and falling into Hetch Hetchy reservoir.

Sounds like a fun trip. Funny, I live just a couple hours away and have never been. I normally spent my time running around the Sierras further north. Maybe this year I'll get down there.


-X
 
It is a lot of stairs and crowded in August on the Mist Trail. Start very early, good thing is the day is very long that time of the year.
You don't want to be on Half Dome in the afternoon due to possible thunder storms so watch the clouds.
There are places to fill up water bottles on the trail even a few water fountains on the lower Mist Trail. Bring a small filter or something to purify water from the Merced River and other streams. Hydrate early and fully before you start out on the trail.
Bring a small kit to deal with blisters this hike will test your feet.
The part up the cables is easier than it looks but it can be crowded and slow going. Also the granite is very slick inside the cables. Last time I was up there I came down on the outside of the cables instead. The rock there is more grippy there.
Don't bring anything to don't need. Some basic essentials for emergencies, clothes food and water. That is really it. Leave every knife at camp/car except one. :)
Have fun be safe don't be afraid to turn around if it gets dicey.
 
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