Checked Half Dome off my Bucket List

"Half Dome is the ultimate Yosemite day hike -- the one you can't die without doing, and the one you're most likely to die while doing."

This 50-year old woman hiked an extremely strenuous 16 miles with an elevation gain of 4,800 feet and climbed the two steel cables to the top of one of the world's most vertical walls.

With 20% of the dome missing, it's unsure how this signature landmark of Yosemite National Park got its unique and beautiful shape. The peak reaches an attitude of 8,842 feet and the face of Half Dome rises 2000 feet straight up. The top of the dome is surprisingly flat and the size of 17 football fields (13 acres).

Although very strenuous, the hike to the Dome is amazing. We were up close with two incredible waterfalls, Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall. We hiked through Little Yosemite Valley and spent time at the Merced River. We climbed about 700 steps on the lower Mist Trail, 1200 steps on the upper Mist Trail and about 500 steps on the Sub Dome. That's a lot of steps!

It's very rare to see a bear on the trail to Half Dome but we saw a bear. He was on one side of the trail and we waited for him to get to the other side before we began taking pictures. It is common however to see rattlesnakes. Fortunately, we did not see any snakes but talked to hikers who had seen a rattlesnake.  

The Sub Dome is a 400-foot rise before you get to the cables and probably the hardest part of the trail. With the endless switchbacks and stairs, it was tough! These are pictures at the Sub Dome. 

After the Sub Dome, we came face to face with the infamous cables. Wow! Time to put on the gloves and go for it. From the base to the top is a 425-foot vertical rise. Pulling myself up the cables (after a long strenuous hike) was the hardest thing I've ever done. I only made it because I had the motivation and determination needed to reach the top, and because I didn't look down. Other hikers were great and very encouraging. 

The most difficult sections of the climb were the steep granite ledges that were difficult to step over. There were also sections where one cable ended and another one began which made me feel like I had nothing to hold onto even though it was just a time to transition from one cable to another. What an accomplishment when we finally made it to the top!

The marmot  who lives at the top

After taking lots of pictures and enjoying our lunch, it was time to head down the cables. I went down sideways holding on as tight as I could to each section of the cable. I could feel myself slipping a couple of times which was very scary. Others went down backwards as if on a ladder, holding on to both sides of the cables. They made it look so easy but I just couldn't do it backwards.

When we made it off the cables, we took off our gloves, congratulated each other and began the long hike back. We still had 8 miles to go, we were out of water and it was much later than we had planned. We filtered water on the way back and we were thankful to make it off the trail before dark. I did not want to be left there at night with the bears and rattlesnakes -- the mosquitos were bad enough. 

So we did it. We conquered Half Dome! We were not sure at times if we would make it but we were determined. There was no way we were coming back from California defeated by the Dome. What an incredible hike and what an amazing experience. I've always heard about a runner's high and I don't know if there is such a thing as a hiker's high but if there is, I experienced it that day on Half Dome. This was the ultimate day hike!

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"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." ~Philippians 4:13

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." ~Joshua 1:9