2018 May: Day trip
Climb Half Dome
Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Half Dome and its world-renowned cables
The final 120 meters (400 ft) ascent
(red oval of the above pic) is steep up the rock
between two steel cables used as handholds.
The cables are fixed with bolts to the rock
and raised onto a series of metal poles
in late May of each year.
They are taken down from the poles
for the winter in early October.
But they are still fixed to the rock surface
and can be used.
The National Park Service recommends against
climbing the route when the cables are down
and when the surface of the rock is
wet and slippery.
Lottery draw for Half Dome climbing permit
The Half Dome hike goes from the
Yosemite Valley floor to the top of the dome
in 13 km (8.2 miles) via the Mist Trail.
It is a 1,460-meter (4,800-ft) gain in elevation.
The length and difficulty of the trail used
to keep it less crowded than other park trails.
Nonetheless by 2010 the trail traffic
has grown to as many as 1,000 people
on a good summer's day.
This crowd factor became so high that
one would need to wait for 45 minutes
just to get onto the cables ...
a perennial source of bottleneck.
And so, in 2011 a climbing permit was required
to climb Half Dome to keep the crowd down.
But that only shifted the bottleneck from
the cables to the permit-reservation system.
In 2011 the permits sold out within an hour
of becoming available !
In 2012, the park service switched
to a lottery system, which remains
in place till today (May 2018).
While getting a permit is a pain for us hikers,
the system has definitely reduced crowding,
and the days of long waits to get onto
the cables are over.
At the time of writing this report, 350 permits
per day are issued for the cable ascent and
its preceding climb up the slope of Subdome:
- 225 for day hikers and 75 for backpackers
via a season's lottery draw in March.
- Plus another 50 or so given out
via lottery two days in advance.
Success in the lottery draw
I was not successful in the March lottery draw.
But by then my plane ticket was booked,
my hotel was booked;
I flew to California anyway.
Luckily I was successful in the 2-day-in-advance
daily lottery draw.
And so, today, I'm climbing Half Dome !
(Many thanks to Julie Kee who submitted
the lottery draw for me while I was still
in transit from Sydney to California.)
Maps
Topographic map can be downloaded
from this link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wu7pMPXFbeyx5YAlY5AoCGU6NRy9RnNI/view?usp=sharing
The map is reproduced below.
But you are better off to download the map
from above link.
OpenStreetMap:
- 4 red arrows, anti-clockwise from left:
1 Trailhead Parking
2 Nevada Fall
3 Little Yosemite Valley Campground
4 Half Dome, 2694 meters
Satellite image:
- 3 red arrows, left to right:
1 Top of Half Dome
2 Bottom of Cable Route
3 Top of Subdome
- 3 yellow arrows, left to right:
1 Trailhead Parking
2 Vernal Fall
3 Nevada Fall
Car park near the trailhead
Park car at Trailhead Parking in Yosemite Village.
The carpark is on the east side of
Half Dome Village, also known as Curry Village
(which is part of Yosemite Village).
It is the closest carpark for the Half Dome hike.
- 2 red arrows, left to right:
1 Trailhead Parking ...
Closest carpark for the Half Dome hike
2 Happy Isles Fen Boardwalk
through Happy Isles Fen
- Small blue circle: Toilet block at Happy Isles
- Blue arrows: Direction of walk to Half Dome
GPS tracklog files & Route
The GPX tracklog files of the hike
can be downloaded from:
- Carpark to Half Dome:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xufiq0Kc-act4qU-wXI3AaS_0lCRRjGF/view?usp=sharing
- Half Dome to carpark:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u0kRS18SqlUB2O2nbRYR60oaS7Rv4Sbz/view?usp=sharing
Here is my tracklog, from carpark to Half Dome,
superimposed on OpenStreetMap:
- 4 red arrows, anti-clockwise from left:
1 Trailhead Parking
2 Nevada Fall
3 Little Yosemite Valley Campground
4 Half Dome, 2694 meters
The tracklog, from Half Dome to carpark:
- It is almost the same as the previous map,
but in reverse order, with additional detours to:
• Little Yosemite Valley Campground
• Top of Nevada Fall
- 4 red arrows, anti-clockwise from left:
1 Trailhead Parking
2 Nevada Fall
3 Little Yosemite Valley Campground
4 Half Dome, 2694 meters
A summary of my route:
- Start at Trailhead Parking,
the closest carpark for the Half Dome hike
- Walk on Mist Trail
- Then on John Muir Trail
- Then on Half Dome Trail to Subdome
- Then on cable route to top of Half Dome
- Explore around the top of Half Dome,
including the 2684-meter rocky mound
south-west of Half Dome
- Return via the same route
- Along the way, detour to visit
• Little Yosemite Valley Campground
• and top of Nevada Fall
Timeline & Distance
05:37 0.0 km Start walking along a foot track,
south of and parallel to
Happy Isles Loop Rd
05:48 0.75km At toilet block at Happy Isles, just
west of the bridge over Merced Rv
Toilet break
05:58 0.75km Resume walking
06:03 1.05km At junction of Happy Isles Loop Rd
and Mist Trail to Half Dome
06:06 1.3 km At a lookout over Merced River
(Refer to photo #5 below.)
06:57 3.4 km At top of Vernal Falls
06:59 3.4 km Resume walking
07:59 5.15km At junction of Mist Trail
& John Muir Trail (Access to top
of Nevada Fall is from here.)
Morning tea #1
08:07 5.15km Resume walking
08:33 7.05km At junction of John Muir Trail
& track to
Little Yosemite Valley Campground
09:47 10.7 km Stop for morning tea
Morning tea #2
09:55 10.7 km Resume walking
10:30 11.9 km At top of Subdome
10:33 11.95km At start of cable ascent
up Half Dome
Waiting for others to get on and get off the cables
10:37 11.95km Start to climb up the cables
10:57 12.1 km End of cable ascent
11:00 12.15km At Half Dome summit
11:03 12.25km At The Visor of Half Dome
11:08 12.5 km At 2684-meter mound
south-west of Half Dome
Explore around
11:16 12.7 km Turn around
11:20 12.95km Back at Half Dome summit
Lunch
11:34 13.0 km Resume walking
11:36 13.05km At The Visor of Half Dome (again)
11:37 13.05km Start to head towards the top
of the cables
11:39 13.15km At top of the cables
and start the descent
12:01 13.35km At bottom of the cables
12:02 13.35km Resume walking
12:07 13.4 km At top of Subdome
12:08 13.4 km Resume walking
13:36 18.2 km At junction of John Muir Trail
& track to
Little Yosemite Valley Campground
13:41 18.35km Stop for afternoon tea in
Little Yosemite Valley Campground
Afternoon tea #1
13:50 18.35km Resume walking; Start to
head back towards the main trail
13:52 18.5 km At junction of John Muir Trail
& track to
Little Yosemite Valley Campground
(same spot as at 13:36)
14:19 20.3 km At junction of John Muir Trail &
Mist Trail (same spot as at 07:59)
14:26 20.6 km At top of Nevada Fall
Afternoon tea #2 & explore around
14:47 20.95km Leave Nevada Fall
14:55 21.3 km Back at junction of John Muir Trail
& Mist Trail (same spot as at 14:19)
15:49 23.05km At top of Vernal Falls
16:40 25.4 km At junction of Mist Trail
& Happy Isles Loop Rd
(same spot as 06:03)
16:44 25.6 km At toilet block at Happy Isles just
west of the bridge over Merced Rv
(same spot as 05:48)
Toilet break
16:47 25.6 km Resume walking
17.01 26.55km Back at carpark
===============================
Total:
- 11 hrs 24 mins
- 26.55km Distance based on plotting
an idealized route,
not from GPS recording
- ??.??km Distance from Garmin GPS ...
Working on it 😊
Park entrance fee
As at May 2018 ...
You need to pay an entrance fee
for visiting Yosemite National park ...
US$35 per private vehicle
(no charge for people in the car).
Pay upon arrival ... no need to pay in advance.
If you arrive at the park too early,
no one will be manning the park entrance,
and you drive in for free.
But when you leave, you will be asked to pay 😊
Trailhead Parking
For the number of people who go on hikes to:
- Half Dome
- Nevada Fall
- other areas
in that vicinity of Yosemite National Park,
the Trailhead Parking is not large enough.
If you wish to obtain a parking space there,
make sure you get there before sunrise !
Pictures - Trailhead Parking
1) Trailhead Parking.
- Closest you can park your car
for the Half Dome hike.
- Impressive cliffs towards the south.
- Glacier Point is somewhere above and behind
the cliffs here.
- Red circle:
Toyota Camry, a hired car ...
for the duration of my holiday in USA
Happy Isles
The route to Half Dome is:
- First, walk through Happy Isles Fen Boardwalk
to the toilet block at Happy Isles.
- Then cross Happy Isles Bridge over Merced River.
2) Happy Isles Fen Boardwalk ...
Through Happy Isles Fen.
3) Toilet block at Happy Isles.
4) Happy Isles Bridge over Merced River ...
On Happy Isles Loop Road.
- Lower pic: Photograph taken from the bridge
• Merced River, upstream, towards north
• 2 red arrows, left to right:
North Dome, Basket Dome
Mist Trail
After crossing the bridge in photo #4,
it is then onto the trail to Half Dome.
The trail will follow Merced river upstream
to Little Yosemite Valley Campground.
5) Not long after crossing the bridge,
a gazebo cum lookout over Merced River.
6) The initial part of the trail is extremely smooth.
- A wheelchair can negotiate along it easily.
- It is only when the trail approaches Vernal Fall
that it becomes a bit rougher.
7) Cliff on left side of the pic: Panorama Cliff.
- Red arrow: Towards south ...
Panorama Point is somewhere above
and behind the cliff there.
- Red oval: Illilouette Creek and Illilouette Gorge
8) Cyanocitta stelleri (Steller's jay) ...
On the trail to Vernal Fall.
(Photograph not well taken
as the bird never stands still
and the light level is low ...
Still early in the morning.)
Footbridge over Merced River
9) Vernal Fall Footbridge over Merced River.
- Upper pic, yellow arrow: Direction of hike
- Lower pic:
• On the footbridge, facing upstream
(left side of upper pic)
• You should be able to match
some of the rocks here
with the rocks in the upper pic.
• Red oval:
Vernal Fall ...
The trail now leads to the fall.
Vernal Fall - bottom
10) Approaching the bottom of Vernal Fall.
- Misty look of the photographs are due to
the heavy water spray caused by the fall.
11) The steps climbing towards Vernal Fall.
12) Looking back at ...
Merced River flowing downstream.
13) Vernal Fall in its glory.
14) Closer to the bottom of the fall.
- Beautiful rainbow !
Climbing to the top of Vernal Fall
15) Stairs to top of Vernal Fall.
- Lower left: Looking up the stairs
- Lower right: Looking down the stairs
Vernal Fall - Top
16) At top of Vernal Fall.
- Lower pic, red arrow: Grizzly Peak
17) I am at the railing of the previous pic,
looking down at the fall.
18) (Continuation to the right of previous pic)
Merced River ...
Just before it plunges down Vernal Fall
Emerald Pool & Silver Apron
19) (Not far to the right of previous pic)
A quieter part of the river called Emerald Pool.
- Red oval:
Silver Apron ...
Merced River flows down the Silver Apron
into Emerald Pool.
First glimpse of Half Dome
20) My first glimpse of Half Dome.
(Near where the previous pic was taken)
- 3 red arrows, left to right:
1 Half Dome
2 Mt Boderik
3 Liberty Cap
- It is still a long way to Half Dome.
- The trail is not directly towards it.
The trail goes towards the right edge of this pic.
Then turns to way behind
• Mt Boderik
• Liberty Cap
Then turns left towards Half Dome.
Another footbridge over Merced River
21) About to cross Merced River again,
and for the last time.
(The previous crossing was in photo #9.)
22) On the footbridge of the previous pic.
- Upper pic: Facing upstream
- Lower pic: Facing downstream
• Red arrow: Grizzly Peak
• 2 red ovals:
Emerald Pool & Silver Apron ...
Refer to photo #19.
Nevada Fall - bottom
23) Approaching Nevada Fall.
- Right pic:
Merced River flowing off Nevada Fall
Climbing towards the top of Nevada Fall
24) Climbing up towards the top of Nevada Fall.
25) Plenty of these purple flowers
by the side of the trail.
- If you know their name, please let me know.
26) Mist Trail climbs up
towards the top of Nevada Fall.
- Upper pic, red oval:
These 2 girls are fast.
They soon overtake me.
- Lower pic:
They are the 2 girls in the red oval
of the upper pic.
Junction of Mist Trail & John Muir Trail
Now at the junction of Mist Trail & John Muir Trail.
The junction is the end of Mist Trail.
27) I am looking down at the stairs of Mist Trail
leading to the junction.
- When one reaches the junction:
• Turn right (south) is a short hike
to the top of Nevada Fall.
I'll go there in the return trip (not now).
• For now, I'll turn left (north)
and head for Half Dome.
28) I've passed the junction mentioned
in the previous pic.
- This is Merced River not far from the junction.
To Little Yosemite Valley Campground
29) Now on the trail to
Little Yosemite Valley Campground.
30) Further along the trail.
- Upper pic:
Looking at Liberty Cap ...
This rocky peak was featured in photo #20.
- Lower pic:
Further along the trail ...
I have my first good view
of the impressive Half Dome !
To Subdome
I've past Little Yosemite Valley Campground
and didn't go in.
I'll visit the place on the way back ...
See photos #73 and #74.
31) Forest scene ... not far after passing
Little Yosemite Valley Campground.
32) Around where the previous pic was taken,
someone had scribbled this message
on the trail:
ARNOT
YOU GLAD
you're hiking
HALF DOME
- Well, that's exactly my feeling now 😊
33) These are magnificent trees.
- If you know their name, please let me know.
34) Another magnificent tree.
- If you know its name, please let me know.
- Right pic: Same tree as the one in left pic
- Lower right pic: Plenty of pines cones around ...
The one here may not belong to this tree.
35) More of the majestic trees.
- If you know their names, please let me know.
- Lichen covering the trees: Letharia vulpina
Commonly known as Wolf Lichen
36) Letharia vulpina, commonly known as
the Wolf Lichen covering the bark of a tree.
- And please let me know the name of the tree.
37) Closer to Half Dome now,
but still a long way to hike up there !
- Lower pic, red oval:
Subdome ...
It is the rocky dome in front of Half Dome.
It will be a steep slog just to climb up there ...
See photos #44 to #46.
38) More pictures of Half Dome.
I am now high enough to start having
a decent view of the Sierra Nevada Range
in the Yosemite National Park area.
39) Parts of the Sierra Nevada Range.
- Upper pic: 4 red arrows, left to right:
1 Tenaya Peak
2 Quarter Dome
3 Clouds Rest ...
Had I failed in the lottery draw
for the Half Dome climbing permit,
this would be my backup mountain.
4 The Pinnacles
40) Walking further forward ...
- This pic and photos #41 to #43
form a 360-degree panorama.
- 5 red arrows, left to right:
1 Clouds Rest ... towards north-east-ish
2 Mt Clark ... towards south-east-ish
3 Gray Peak
4 Mt Starr King ... towards south
5 Part of Mt Starr King complex ...
A peak to the north-west of Mt Starr King
41) Closer look at the scenes in the previous pic.
- Upper pic: Zooming to the mid part of photo #40
• 2 red arrows, left to right:
1 Mt Clark ... towards south-east-ish
2 Gray Peak
- Lower pic: Zooming to the right part of photo #40
(also continuation to the right of the upper pic)
• 2 red arrows, left to right:
1 Mt Starr King ... towards south
2 Part of Mt Starr King complex ...
a peak to the north-west of Mt Starr King
42) Half Dome.
- Upper pic:
(Continuation to the right of previous pic)
- Lower pic:
Closer view of Half Dome;
and Subdome in front of it
• Small red circle: Hikers
• Red oval: The cable route
• Blue oval: Top of Subdome
43) (Continuation to the right of photo #42)
- Red arrow: Mt Hoffmann ... towards north
- Continuation to the right of this pic is photo #40,
completing a 360-degree panorama.
Climbing up Subdome
So far you don't need a climbing permit
to hike to where photos #42/43 were taken.
But from then on, to climb up Subdome
and then Half Dome later on,
you would need a permit.
44) Climbing up Subdome ...
Stairs cut into the rocks.
- Upper pic, red arrow: Mt Starr King
45) It is a long and steep climb,
guarantee to tire you quickly 😊
(Lower pic is taken while I'm on my way down ...
The clouds have come in at that time
and the sky is no longer blue.)
46) Looking down slope
at hikers climbing up Subdome.
- Lower pic:
• 5 red arrows, left to right:
1 Polly Dome
2 Tenaya Peak
3 Quarter Dome
4 Clouds Rest
5 The Pinnacles
• The large valley below Tenaya Peak is
Tenaya Canyon & Tenaya Creek ...
Also, refer to photo #69.
47) 180-degr panorama, from slope of Subdome.
- Photo taken at the same spot as previous pic
- Upper pic:
• 6 red arrows, left to right:
1 Mt Hoffmann ... towards north-ish
2 Tuolumne Peak
3 Mt Watlkins
4 ???
5 Polly Dome
6 Tenaya Peak
- Lower pic:
(Continuation to the right of the upper pic)
• 5 red arrows, left to right:
1 Quarter Dome
2 Clouds Rest ... towards north-east-ish
3 The Pinnacles
4 Mt Clark ... towards south-east-ish
5 Gray Peak
At top of Subdome
48) Now at the top of Subdome,
looking at Half Dome.
- The name "Half Dome" comes from its shape ...
like a dome cut in half.
- Red oval:
Cables to help you to climb up the rock face ...
It is almost vertical.
- Average return trip of the Half Dome hike
is 10 hours.
• To reach here from the trailhead
takes about 5 hours.
• Then another 20 minnutes to climb
up the cables.
- This pic and the 3 pics in photo #49
form a 360-degree panorama.
49) (Continuation to the right of previous pic)
- Upper pic:
• 2 red arrows, left to right:
1 Mt Hoffmann ... towards north-ish
2 Tuolumne Peak
- Middle pic:
(Continuation to the right of the upper pic)
• Foreground is the top of Subdome ...
Hikers taking a rest before
tackling Half Dome.
• 7 red arrows, left to right:
1 Tuolumne Peak
2 Mt Watlkins ... north-north-east-ish
3 ???
4 Polly Dome
5 Tenaya Peak
6 Clouds Rest
7 The Pinnacles ... east-north-east-ish
- Lower pic:
(Continuation to the right of the middle pic)
• 4 red arrows, left to right:
1 Mt Clark ... towards south-east
2 Gray Peak
3 Mt Starr King
4 Part of Mt Starr King complex
(towards south) ...
a peak to the north-west of Mt Starr King
- Continuation to the right of the lower pic is
photo #48, completing a 360-degree panorama.
At bottom of the cable route
50) This pic is looking back at Subdome
from the bottom of the cable route.
- At the top of Subdome, you can make out
hikers taking a rest.
- 3 red arrows, left to right:
1 Polly Dome
2 Tenaya Peak
3 Clouds Rest
- Red semi-circle:
Cables at the bottom of the cable route
51) 180-degree panorama ...
Looking back towards Subdome.
- Photos taken at the same spot as previous pic
- Upper pic:
• Red oval:
Top of Subdome ...
You can make out hikers resting there.
• 7 red arrows, left to right:
1 Mt Hoffmann ... towards north-ish
2 Tuolumne Peak
3 Mt Watlkins ... north-north-east-ish
4 ???
5 Polly Dome
6 Tenaya Peak
7 Clouds Rest
- Lower pic:
(Continuation to the right of the upper pic)
• 4 red arrows, left to right:
1 Mt Clark ... towards south-east
2 Gray Peak
3 Mt Starr King
4 Part of Mt Starr King complex
(towards south) ...
a peak to the north-west of Mt Starr King
52) Gloves left behind by hikers
after climbing Half Dome.
- You would need gloves to hold onto the cables.
If you forgot to take a pair to the climb,
you can pick up one from here.
Half Dome Cable Route
53) This is the world-renowned
Half Dome cable route.
- Upper pic, red arrow:
The gloves of the previous pic are here.
54) Facing down slope ... It is steep !
55) Facing up slope.
56) The cables end here.
- 5 red arrows, left to right:
1 Polly Dome
2 Tenaya Peak
3 Quarter Dome
4 Clouds Rest
5 The Pinnacles
Top of Half Dome
Once you are off the cables,
a few more steps will take you
to the top of Half Dome.
57) Some cairns to greet you
after you get off the cables.
58) Finally, I am at the top of Half Dome,
2694 meters in elevation.
- Upper pic:
• Me
• Background: An overhang called "The Visor"
- Lower pic:
• Red circle: Me ... at The Visor
"Diving Board". It is actually called "The Visor".
There is a "Diving Board" but it is below Half Dome,
and is a separate walk from the Half Dome hike.
It is where Ansel Adams took
his famous photograph:
"Monolith, The Face of Half Dome,
Yosemite National Park, 1927".
You can hike to the Diving Board, but
it is not nearly as popular as the Half Dome hike.
59) More photographs of The Visor.
- Red circle: Yosemite Village ... towards east
- The large green valley running vertically
from top to bottom of the pic is Yosemite Valley.
- Lower pic:
Together with photos #60 and #61,
they form a 360-degree panorama.
60) (Continuation to the right of the previous pic)
- Upper pic:
• 5 red arrows, left to right:
1 Mt Hoffmann
2 Tuolumne Peak
3 Mt Watlkins ... north-north-east-ish
4 Polly Dome
5 Tenaya Peak
- Lower pic:
(Continuation to the right of the upper pic)
• 4 red arrows, left to right:
1 Clouds Rest
2 The Pinnacles ... east-north-east-ish
3 Mt Clark ... towards south-east
4 Gray Peak
- Continuation to the right of the lower pic
is photo #61.
61) (Continuation to the right of the previous pic)
From top of Half Dome, towards south-west
is a 2684-meter rocky mound.
I'm heading towards it now.
- Upper pic:
• Red arrow:
Mt Starr King ... south-south-east-ish
• Continuation to the right of this pic
is photo #59's lower pic,
completing a 360-degree panorama.
- Lower pic:
Zooming to the 2684-meter rocky mound
At 2684-meter rocky mound
south-west of Half Dome
62) Now at the 2684-meter rocky mound,
and looking back at Half Dome.
- 4 red arrows, left to right:
1 Mt Hoffmann
2 Top of Half Dome ... towards north-east
3 Polly Dome
4 Tenaya Peak
- This pic and the 3 pics in photo #63
form a 360-degree panorama.
63) (Continuation to the right of previous pic)
- Upper pic:
• 4 red arrows, left to right:
1 Clouds Rest
2 The Pinnacles ... east-north-east-ish
3 Mt Clark ... towards south-east
4 Gray Peak
- Middle pic:
(Continuation to the right of upper pic)
• Red arrow: Mt Starr King
- Lower pic:
(Continuation to the right of middle pic)
• Small red dot:
I'm go there now to have a look.
It has a good view of Yosemite Valley.
- Continuation to the right of lower pic is
photo #62, completing a 360-degree panorama.
64) Now at the red dot of the previous pic
and looking back at Half Dome.
- Upper pic: Top of Half Dome
- Lower pic:
• 2 red arrows, left to right:
1 Mt Hoffmann
2 Tuolumne Peak ... north-north-east-ish
• This pic and the 3 pics in photo #65
form a 360-degree panorama.
65) (Continuation to the right of previous pic)
- Upper pic:
• Left half of the pic:
2684-meter rocky mound
south-west of Half Dome ...
I was standing on top of that mound
when taking photos #62 and #63.
• Red arrow: Mt Starr King ... sth-sth-east-ish
- Middle pic:
(Continuation to the right of upper pic)
• Red arrow: Mt Starr King ... sth-sth-east-ish
• Small yellow dot:
Carpark where I started the hike
to Half Dome early this morning
- Lower pic:
(Continuation to the right of the middle pic)
• Red circle: Yosemite Village
• Yosemite Valley (towards east)
is the large dark green valley
near the left edge of this pic.
• Merced River runs in Yosemite Valley.
- Continuation to the right of lower pic
is photo #64's lower pic,
completing a 360-degree panorama.
66) The small red dot in the lower pic
of photo #63 is on the north side
of the 2684-meter rocky mound.
I am now at the south side of the mound.
- 4 red arrows, left to right:
1 Mt Clark ... towards south-east
2 Gray Peak
3 Mt Starr King ... south-south-east-ish
4 Liberty Cap .. towards south
At The Visor of Half Dome
I'm now at The Visor (photo #59).
67) The 3 pics below plus the 2 pics in
photo #68 form a 360-degree panorama.
- Upper pic:
• Red arrow: Mt Starr King
• Red oval:
2684-meter rocky mound
south-west of Half Dome ...
I was standing on top of that mound
when taking photos #62 and #63.
- Middle pic:
(Continuation to the right of upper pic)
• Left red circle:
Carpark where I started the hike
to Half Dome early this morning
• Right red circle: Yosemite Village
• Yosemite Valley (towards east) is
between the 2 red circles.
• Merced River runs in Yosemite Valley.
- Lower pic:
(Continuation to the right of the middle pic)
• Red circle: Yosemite Village
68) (Continuation to the right of previous pic)
- Upper pic:
• 5 red arrows, left to right:
1 Mt Hoffmann
2 Tuolumne Peak
3 Mt Watlkins ... north-north-east-ish
4 Polly Dome
5 Tenaya Peak ... towards north-east
• The main valley below Tenaya Peak is
Tenaya Canyon. Tenaya Creek flows in there.
- Lower pic:
(Continuation to the right of the upper pic)
• Main feature in this pic is the area
near the highest point of Half Dome.
• 2 red arrows, top to bottom:
1 Clouds Rest ... east-north-east-ish
2 Quarter Dome
- Continuation to the right of lower pic is
photo #67, completing a 360-degree panorama.
69) Another look at the beautiful valley ...
the one in photo #68's upper pic.
- Photo taken from The Visor
- 7 red arrows, left to right:
1 Mt Hoffmann
2 Tuolumne Peak
3 Mt Watlkins ... north-north-east-ish
4 Polly Dome
5 Tenaya Peak ... towards north-east
6 Quarter Dome
7 Clouds Rest ... east-north-east-ish
- The main valley below Tenaya Peak is
Tenaya Canyon. Tenaya Creek flows in there.
- The cliffs on the right side of the pic
belongs to Half Dome ...
Refer to the lower pic of photo #68.
That's it, the end of my climb to Half Dome.
Start to retrace steps back to the car.
Fauna around Half Dome
70) Plenty of squirrels all the way
from the carpark to the top of Half Dome.
71) Sceloporus occidentalis taylori.
(Sierra Fence Lizard)
- Plenty of them from the carpark
to the top of Half Dome
- They are often seen darting across granite slabs
or heard skittering through dry leaves.
72) Crotalus oreganus.
(Northern Pacific rattlesnake)
- I heard a rattle and found this snake !
- It is too quick for me ...
It ducks its head under a log
before I can click on the camera !
Little Yosemite Valley Campground
On the way back to the carpark, I make a detour
to Little Yosemite Valley Campground.
73) At the campground.
- Upper pic: Toilet block
- Lower pic:
It is a large campground.
This pic is a small part of the area.
74) From the campground, looking north-west at:
- Half Dome (left red arrow)
- Subdome (right red arrow)
There, I was on the trail not far west
of the campground ...
Hence the similarity between the 2 pics.
Junction of Mist Trail & John Muir Trail
(again)
I'm going to take a detour to visit Nevada Fall.
75) The detour starts here, at the junction
of Mist Trail & John Muir Trail.
This is where photo #27 was taken.
- The stairs in photo #27 is to the left of this pic.
- The building here is a toilet block.
- The mountain dominating the scene: Liberty Cap
Detour to Nevada Fall
76) On John Muir Trail to Nevada Fall.
- Upper pic: Zooming into the red square
of the middle pic
• Near the right edge is where
Merced River plunges down Nevada Fall.
- Middle pic: John Muir Trail to Nevada Fall
• Red square:
The upper pic zooms into this area.
- Lower pic: Closer to Nevada Fall
Nevada Fall
77) Merced River.
- Shortly after flowing pass the bridge in this pic,
Merced River plunges down Nevada Fall ...
just beyond the right edge of the pic.
78) Merced River ... looking upstream.
- Picture taken while standing on the bridge
of the previous pic
- I was standing at the railing (left edge of this pic)
when taking the previous photograph.
79) Merced River ...
Looking downstream at the river
plunging down Nevada Fall.
- Picture taken from the bridge in photo #77
- Red arrow: Grizzly Peak
80) Merced River plunging down Nevada Fall.
- From another view point compared to
previous pic
81) This is it, Nevada Fall !
82) Liberty Cap towers over Nevada Fall.
Afterwards ...
it is retracing steps back to
where photo #75 was taken, then back to the car.
However ...
if I am to re-do this hike, at Nevada Fall,
I would continue along John Muir Trail
to Clark Point.
Then, from Clark Point, cut back to Mist Trail.
Comment
Definitely a memorably hike !
No wonder so many people like to climb Half Dome !
Great post - I came across this somewhat randomly and I enjoyed reading your log, great job!
ReplyDelete#8 - The bird is a "Steller's Jay" in case anyone is wondering. Very intelligent, fun to watch when taking a break on long hikes. Always a highlight of mountain hikes here in Colorado.
Thank you for your comment.
DeleteAnd I have updated "Steller's Jay" into the report.