Half Dome in January - 01/08/14 06:56 AM
A friend emailed last week saying he'd like to try Half Dome, since there was so little snow. He has climbed it every month except January, February and March. So this was our chance to do January. I called several more friends, and one came along.
This hike took us 10 hours car-to-car, about 6+ up and 3 down. We took a short cut off the Clouds Rest - Half Dome saddle which may have saved a little time, but included some brushy bushwhacking.
The cables are "down" but the granite was clear and dry, so that part was no trouble. It took about 20 minutes to go up, and 7-8 to descend.
One of the party had good Verizon service in several places. My old Sprint phone wouldn't connect, even at the top. We met two backpackers returning from a night in Little Yosemite Valley, and 5 hikers below Vernal Falls, and nobody else. Pretty deserted out there!
Here are several pics. There are 30 in the album here.
Three old dudes.
Vernal Fall
Classic cables shot
Some geek
This picture shows the Diving Board, below and a little west of Half Dome. ...need to hike there again! It's a cool spot that takes some off-trail hiking.
This hike took us 10 hours car-to-car, about 6+ up and 3 down. We took a short cut off the Clouds Rest - Half Dome saddle which may have saved a little time, but included some brushy bushwhacking.
The cables are "down" but the granite was clear and dry, so that part was no trouble. It took about 20 minutes to go up, and 7-8 to descend.
One of the party had good Verizon service in several places. My old Sprint phone wouldn't connect, even at the top. We met two backpackers returning from a night in Little Yosemite Valley, and 5 hikers below Vernal Falls, and nobody else. Pretty deserted out there!
Here are several pics. There are 30 in the album here.
Three old dudes.
Vernal Fall
Classic cables shot
Some geek
This picture shows the Diving Board, below and a little west of Half Dome. ...need to hike there again! It's a cool spot that takes some off-trail hiking.