Well; hiking is a great passion for human health. Hiking is an iconic symbol of Yosemite grandeur and “Half Dome” just begs to be climbed. The 7 miles route to this granite landmark through the Mist Trail sees 2,500 to 3,000 folks per day during summer weekends, making it the most heavily trafficked corridor in the park.
Half Dome is the signature landmark of “Yosemite National Park”. An average man can finish the approximately 16-mile, 12-hour hike to the top of Yosemite’s signature landmark if they have three things: Education, Preparation, and Motivation.
The most famous or infamous part of the hike is the ascent up the cables. The two metal cables allow hikers to climb the last 400 feet to the summit without rock climbing equipment. Even though many folks bear fatigue, altitude sickness, and dehydration in their willpower to stand atop Half Dome’s broad 8,836-foot-high crown.
Steel cables bolted into the granite assist climbers up the final 400 vertical feet, but the combination of high, open rock and metal fixtures makes this a lousy place to get caught in an electrical storm. And once the raindrops start falling, the rock becomes dangerously slick. Yosemite’s search and rescue team responds to 300 incidents each year more than any other national park and not surprisingly, and claim six deaths since 1995. So you have to be very fit and honestly, a survival plan assesses your fitness level.
If you want to hike the half dome you’ll need a permit. The dome itself reflects the general shape of an intrusion of granodiorite deep underground. As the intrusion became exposed by erosion, the change in pressure caused the rock to crack apart into thin shells, which fall off the sides and leave the mountain clean. So this process is called exfoliation, and Half Dome is a classic exfoliation dome.
The Mist Trail is a hard hike; you’ve to leave early not later than 5 a.m. to give yourself the best shot at completing it. Hike on a weekday between late May and early October, a period when the cables have generally been installed.
Assess the sky before you commit to the cables, and never climb them when the rock is wet: That’s when almost every fall from Half Dome has occurred. The key points for success are: 1. Begin early, 2. Wear good boots, 3. Drink plenty of water, 4. Use hiking poles and 5. Use rubberized gloves for the cables.
Moreover, you must check sunrise and sunset times before you start your hike, and always bring a flashlight or headlamp with good quality batteries. Though the trail is well marked, you should be prepared with a good topographic map and compass, with the ability to use them.
Indeed Half Dome hiking is an instant lifetime memory; so it is recommended you must do it once a life. It is challenging but rewarding folks. Prepare yourself so that you will be successful and able to summit the peak.
Half Dome Elevation: 8,842 feet (2,695 meters)
Total Elevation Gain: 4,800 feet (1,600 meters) from Yosemite Valley
Hike Distance: 14.2 miles (22.7 km) round trip via Mist Trail
16.5 miles (26.5 km) round trip via John Muir Trail
20 miles (32 km) round trip via Glacier Point
23 miles (37) km round trip via Tenaya Lake
7 miles (11 km) round trip from Little Yosemite Valley campground
Hiking Time: 10 – 14 hours
Well; hiking is a great passion for human health. Hiking is an iconic symbol of Yosemite grandeur and Half Dome just begs to be climbed.
