This report was originally posted on that other forum. (link) It's time to move it here. ...from Sept 24, 2008:
Originally Posted By: Steve C, 04-19-2008
Thanks for posting the report, Kent. I have got to try that soon.
<-- Click to see the picture album.
Well, I finally tried it out on Saturday. It was a fun hike, but we got way off route a few times. At one point, we spotted a fast-moving group of 4, and realized they knew exactly where to go. We watched, then struggled back onto their path, and found the perfect route. There is a hard to find path through the bushes, and a narrow ledge across the slabs with only a couple of exposed places.
Coming down, we had trouble finding the route, getting off route and onto steep exposed slabs again. It took a while and wore us out, but we finally found the correct path again.
I had in the back of my mind that I wanted to try Liberty Cap, but the climb from the valley floor took 5 hours with all the routfinding trouble.
So we opted instead for a swim at the base of Vernal Falls, which was just a small shower. The swim was perfect, though, since the sun was streaming into the gorge.
A little side issue: I carried my SPOT toy along, and while I was struggling to get back off a steep place just below the lip of the diving board, it unclipped from my pack strap. It cartwheeled ~200' down the slab and out of sight. I couldn't find it at first, but returning after lunch at the Diving Board point, I found it -- scratched up, but still working!
I have posted pictures here. There is a route description on the second picture, and a map with the correct route on the fifth picture.
And here's my video from the Half Dome Diving Board.
Edit: In October, MooseTracks, wagga and I did a little loop around Liberty Cap, following Kashcraft's route. MooseTracks' report is here. Her pictures, starting on the second page, (about #102) shows the guano route variation.
I added a blue line to the route map in my smugmug picture set to show our "guano gulch" route around the base of Liberty Cap.
Your topo is correct regarding the location of the Diving Board. It is a formation at the top of the Porcelain Wall, the "little brother" of Half Dome. It can be reached by using the approach to the Snake Dike route on Half Dome, and then traverse across from Snake Dike. Info from an old climbing route guide to Yosemite.
A number of years ago the Porcelain Wall was scoured by a major rock fall, so I don't know the condition of the top of the route or if the "real" Diving Board was damaged. The route to the Diving Board is definitely NOT a tourist hiking route!
The formation on Half Dome that some refer to as the diving board is actually called The Visor. But I suppose it can be called whatever suits a person...
In the photo below from supertopo, the Porcelain Wall is the blank looking wall to the right of the Southwest face of Half Dome. The Diving Board is the overhanging formation at the top of the wall.
Do you happen to recall how long this hike took, and (for me) more importantly, how long it took you to get back to the "main trail" (just above Nevada Falls), or as a minimum to Lost Lake?
I would like to take some photos of the "monolith" at sunset, so would need to get down (past the area of trail finding/exposure) within the 45 minutes (or so) of sunset (during the twilight hour).
No problem hiking the JMT after dark, but would not like to be stuck up there trying to find my way in the dark.
Hey, John, old thread! I'd sure like to get up there again sometime. (when are you thinking about going? )
As I recall, getting down was a bit confusing, and we weren't sure where that crucial little bench was. But we hit it pretty well. Next time, I would keep turning around and trying to remember my return path. (For you, you might consider even taking some bright surveyor tape, and leaving a few "bread crumbs" that you would then remove on the return.)
And then below the granite bench, finding the spot to enter the brushy bushes (Leave another marker!!) to get through that part had us wandering around a little, too. If I were to go again I would really depend on my GPS unit to be able to re-trace my path.
Now IF you are ok at finding a route like that, and you really hurried on the descent, you might be ok. If you had a trusty gps unit, you would be ok, too, after dusk. But otherwise, you might consider taking overnight gear AND water (unless there is snow to melt) and spending the night.
Hey, John, old thread! I'd sure like to get up there again sometime. (when are you thinking about going? )
As I recall, getting down was a bit confusing, and we weren't sure where that crucial little bench was. But we hit it pretty well. Next time, I would keep turning around and trying to remember my return path. (For you, you might consider even taking some bright surveyor tape, and leaving a few "bread crumbs" that you would then remove on the return.)
And then below the granite bench, finding the spot to enter the brushy bushes (Leave another marker!!) to get through that part had us wandering around a little, too. If I were to go again I would really depend on my GPS unit to be able to re-trace my path.
Hey Steve, Yes, very old thread. I'm thinking about late April or early May. My schedule is flexible, but weather will play a role in final date selection. I would want to avoid snow or rain. Join me if you can
Good suggestions about the surveyor tape. I was actually considering buying a few inexpensive red bicycle rear flashers to leave at key locations for pickup on the way down. Perhaps an overkill.
I've seen a slightly different route: "The no-exposure route is also known as the "brush route", as instead of crossing steeply angled granite slabs, the route involves hiking up a steep hillside covered by brush". The web page indicates that it is not so much brush to deal with, so perhaps a good alternative.
John, I pored through Steve Hall's description. I wouldn't go that way, unless you have serious issues with something like the Ebersbacher Ledges on the MR, or the Half Dome cables. My friend Don who went with me on that hike has never hiked Whitney, and doesn't do anything technical, and the ONLY place he had an issue was descending that spot with the three pictures.
All the twists and turns, along with the extra descending onHall's "zero-exposure route", and trying to walk the route in this picture....(his pics 29 & 31) ...leaves me thinking "that's not for me". In my mind, that is more difficult than walking the ledges we used.
And more discussion of the many other routes here: Easiest route to the Diving Board: http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?17,72681,72681#msg-72681 Those guys are Yosemite veterans, and if they write that the climbers route is the fastest, I'd say that is your route, especially if you want to descend quickly.
When I took that hike, all I knew was what I read in the WPSMB post by Kashcraft. When we got to the granite rise after crossing Steve Hall's "Low Point", we wandered around, finding cairns ALL OVER the place! While we were wandering around, a group of climbers came through who obviously knew where they were going. We finally decided to follow them, and that was critical to our success.
Based on your own experience, would you go between Broderick and Liberty, or just go around Liberty? Any opinion as the the Grizzly Peak/Broderick route?
The e-ledges do not bother me and I've been up Half dome several times (however not with cables "down", although I doubt that would make a difference. In fact, it would likely be preferable due to less congestion and no permit needed. So, I doubt the exposure would be an issue. I did have my right shoulder replaced in 2013, so I am a bit more cautious (protecting that joint), but the route would not seem to test arms and shoulders.
No I haven't tried the Emerald Pool/Broderick/Grizzly route. It looks like quite a ways to climb through off-trail. Looking closer, it doubles the off-trail elevation and distance. If I had lots of free weekends, I'd probably try it out. But I am having trouble trying to find any time to get away.
If you are heading up for sunset pictures, the Broderick/Liberty route can add some variation. I went up once with MooseTracks Laura, and came down that route last summer with my 10-y-o daughter. It was more difficult descending, tougher on a kid than I first thought it would be. Going up is better. But...if you are going to be descending after dusk, you should go around Liberty, so you know the route better to return in the dark.
If you're ok on the E-ledges, I think you would like the climbers route.
If you're ok on the E-ledges, I think you would like the climbers route.
Sold! The climbers route it is.
I'll post when I'm going, but think it will be fairly short notice, since I will be watching the weather and trail conditions. I'm guessing that this years rain/snow may delay the hike, but will just have to wait and see.
) 
