Half Dome Hiker Reviews

My husband and I did this hike and it took us about 12 hours. We have done many of the other hikes at Yosemite and thought we were up to the challenge. It was the toughest, most strenuous hike we ever did. Every time we thought we were close we were hours away. Once we made it to the top it was invigorating and wow what an accomplishment. Would I do it again? Probably not. My husband is hooked however. He has completed the hike 2 other times since. I would suggest staying the night at/near Yosemite the day before and the day of completion to be well prepared for the pain!!

I did this climb many years ago and it was fantastic. Once I was on top of the dome I couldn't believe what I had done. I thought going down was easier than going up but both directions were unique experiences.

This hike was strenuous, difficult, extreme, and one of the most rewarding I have ever done! It's pretty much a ball buster all the way with the exception of a small flat area near the backpackers campground. However, once you are standing at the top of Half Dome all that work is more than worth it. This hike can be done by people with even a modest fitness level, but the fitter you are, the more likely you are to see the top as turning around and going back down is mighty tempting at several places along the way. Carry lots of water/gatorade etc...and some food. You'll want to eat on top of Half Dome while you sit and stare at the valley nearly 5000' feet below you. Good hiking shoes should be required by law for this hike. I didn't bring gloves because I had heard there was a pile at the base of the cables...lo and behold, there was. Make lots of friends at the top because you are part of a select club :). I've been hiking all over the world, Half Dome is easily in my top three. It's that amazing!

Hiked Half Dome in Sept., 2011. It turned out to be 3 hikes in one:

1) Mist Trail - Steep, scenic, crowded. Many places to die. Highly recommended.

2) Up to Subdome - From the top of Nevada Fall to Subdome was fairly routine & not nearly as scenic as below. The calm before the storm.

3) The Domes - Guarding the final prize is a 200ish foot high granite basketball called Subdome. Steep, nearly treeless and an ominous portent of things to come. Lose it here, and it's not going to be good. After Subdome is the cable route to the top of Half Dome. After nearly 100 years of use, cables are rickety at best. Route contains several "steps" which add to the difficulty. Steep! We're told that it's 45 degrees....if it's not steeper than that, I'll kiss your Half Dome. Danger potential is off the chart. If you fall, you'll get to Yosemite Valley WAY ahead of schedule. If somebody above you falls, we're talking human dominos. All things considered, it is hard to believe that Yosemite still lets people do this.

Anytime I see a photo of Half Dome, I can say "been there". But, is the reward worth the risk?

Did this for husband's 60th B'day (why couldn't he have just wanted a cake!). So glad we did it. Our 15 yr old daughter did it also. Passed a man who gave great advice for the cables.."just try the first 20 feet, if you can do that you can do the whole thing". Surprised I didn't see more commentary on various websites about the "sub-dome" or "quarter dome" portion which we all thought was the roughest. Also saw a man on the climb who was 68 and it was his 22nd time to summit half dome from Happy Isles. He used hiking poles for the first time and said he would never go without them again. This website was great...gave great advice and encouragment. I know we won't do it 22 times but we may do it again someday...maybe for my husband's 70th?

We started out from Little Yosemite Valley Camp Ground at 6:00 a.m. There were 5 of us. By the time we reached the cables and were ready to ascent, there were 2. The other 3 were suffering from a fear of heights. They just couldn't shake it. So, the 2 of us went up. I was about 3/4 the way up the cables gasping for air. I looked up and I looked down. I was closer to the top than the bottom. My boyfriend, who was down at the bottom of the cables, yelled out "come on sugar, you can do it". I almost started crying when I heard his voice. That was it, I pulled myself up the rest of the way to the top! Yes, I went out on the diving board and had my photo taken. It was an amazing day!

The hike itself is killer! Once you get to the Dome, you'll be exhausted, but the climb up is totally worth it! Don't give up! Personally, I thought the cables weren't that bad. It looks scary, but over in the blink of an eye. The long hike, on the other hand, took forever. Each step became agony. If you decide to do it, don't overpack anything but water!

I just completed this hike last weekend and although it was probably one of the most strenuous things I have ever done, it was absolutely invigorating.

In 1996, my buddy John and I were doing a 3 day hike, starting from Tuolumne Meadows. We had no real plan on where to end up. But we started heading west on the John Muir trail and spent the night at Sunrise campground. That hike was a killer, since the very first thing you do is climb Cathedral Peak, a rise of 5,000 feet in elevation. And the night at Sunrise was entertaining, if you like bears poking their noses at your tent.

The next day we are heading west again when we meet a man and his son of 10 years old. Dad is limping, twisted his ankle on the trail. Then were heading out the quickest way, down the Nevada and Vernal falls. We took pity on them, carried as much of their camping gear as we could and followed them out. On the way the Dad told us that we could stay at the Little Yosemite Campground and do the Dome the next day. Since it was all downhill for him and his boy, he didn't mind. So we agreed, and said our goodbye's that afternoon.

We got to Little Yosemite, had our dinner, washed in the river (snow melt) and got ready to sleep. Just next to us, a group of about 10 Boy Scouts were sleeping out in the open, no tents. Just a campfire in the middle. We said our hello's and went to bed.

Around 10 PM, we hear "Bear!" All these flashlights go on, you can see them swinging back and forth in the trees. I ask the Boy Scout troup leader what's going on. "A bear and a cub came into our camp, and the kids went to chase it." They're chasing a bear and her cub? Isn't that dangerous? "Oh they won't catch her." I thought that stupid, but the boys did get back, alive. We go back to bed.

10:30 PM. "Bear!" Same thing all over again. Not just the Boy Scouts, all the flashlights and lanterns go on. What would they do if they caught the bear?

11:30 PM. "Bear!" Same thing. We hear a voice (not a Boy Scout voice) yell out to the campground. "God damn it! Will you leave the f***ing bears alone? I gotta climb Half Dome tomorrow and I gotta get some sleep!" Silence. We hear nothing else the entire night. That guy was my hero.

Next morning, we are up early heading for the Dome. We get there, and find a big pile of cloth gloves in a box, left by people who did the climb before. Very nice of them. We leave our big backpacks at the base, and just take a little one with water and camera stuff. Up we go.

We were in pretty good shape, and I didn't find the workout all that hard. But, if you have any problem with heights, don't do it. Looking down is NOT recommended. And it does get crowded. We were starting before 8:00 AM and it was still a bit tough to get around people who were resting, pausing for the view, or to break down. About that...

This Girl Scout troup was on their way up as well. One of the girls was clinging to the cable, refusing to let go, move up or down, etc. Her fellow scouts were trying to encourage her, but she was in tears. She never made it up along with her companions, and she was gone when we were going down. I hope she found the courage to do it again.

At the top, the view is all wonderful, etc. But looking over the edge still gives me a feeling of vertigo, after all these years. And I was on my belly crawling to the edge.

I'm doing it again next year. I'll be 50, and it will probably be the last time I can do anything like this. Oh to be young and unemployed again!

My son and I have done Half Dome the last two years. The first year as a day hike, we did it and it was difficult. I was very happy I accomplished this feat. It was huge for me. The second year we went with a group and stayed in the backpacker campground. We left at 3 am and got to the cables a little after sunrise. It was lots of fun with a group. We had the top of Half Dome almost to ourselves, it was very cool. My 72 year old brother in law came along that was very special for me. Standing on the diving board looking out over the valley is not a sight you will ever forget. Everyone needs to do this hike.