I too am a first-timer, hoping to bite the bullet and go for a solo day hike next week. This has been on my wish list for the last few years. I finally have some time off, am in shape, and really want to go for it - while being smart, of course. The permit site's random availability is giving me hope that I'll be able to secure one.
I'm reading a lot of different things online about crampons/microspikes. Will I need them? Some of the snow crossing photos I've seen on this forum look tough, and I have no snow experience.
Also, I've been reading online that some seem to prefer a trail shoe, and some prefer a hiking boot (with a higher ankle). What's the consensus here? I hike on the coast, in Yosemite, and have done Half Dome in the shoes I use for trail marathons (Brooks Cascadia), and they were fine.
Thanks in advance for the advice - I'd rather be cautious than rush into it, and have an enjoyable, safe hike.
