When I was your age, I understood that glaciers about 13,000 years ago cut the valley into what we see today. Flash – science has updated this. So if it will help you sleep better, here is what the brainiacs now say:
The Bible of Half Dome hiking guides. In fact, it’s the only fully dedicated guide. From Amazon…print or digital.
Of all the hiking adventures in Yosemite National Park, probably the single most compelling to visitors from all over the world is the hike to the summit of Half Dome, the 8842-foot granite rock that stands as the Parks signature landmark. For many, it’s a much-anticipated once-in-a-lifetime achievement. The most popular route to Half Domes summit is a grueling 16-mile round-trip trek with 10,800 feet in elevation gain and loss. Although the hike is non-technical, with hikers climbing fixed cables up the granite side of the rock, many would-be hikers are hesitant about this potentially risky trip. How fit should you be? What preparations do you need beforehand? What should you bring? How should you pace yourself during the day? From pre-trip advice to on-the-trail tips, this guide is aimed at both casual and experienced hikers. An estimated 50,000 people attempt the Half-Dome hike each year and up to 800 per day during peak season.
Did you know that for millions of years, the earth was covered by glaciers – up to 2 miles thick? Yes, the “snowball earth.” Then a cycle of warm came and they melted…..then glacierss reappeared. A natural cycle, caused by nature.
Watch this: https://youtu.be/T5PxfyQo9_c
And so Lyell glacier melts….just as glaciers have melted in the past. The earth will still be OK. So do you think that human presence since the mid-1800 have caused this…or do you think the earth goes thru cycles – hot then cold?
Oh, an overlooked source of “greenhouse gases” are volcanos. An average year sees about 50 decent eruptions….they spew out chemicals from the bowels of the mantle. Oh yeah – methane, sulfur, carbon dioxide – wait – these are bad in excess. There are also about 200 “active” volcanos out there. They are not erupting now, but are classed by volcanologists as possible eruptions.
So, what are we to do? Cork the volcanoes? Maybe grow more trees – they intake CO2 and output O2. Maybe stop cutting down the rain forest. Maybe ask cows to stop farting.
Carpe Diem – Hike Half Dome!
Sam Baker got a head start on most of you – he just climbed up El Capitan at Yosemite. Watch out Alex Honnold!!! We’ll keep an eye out for Sam as he breaks records.
Oh yeah…he;’s the youngest on record. I’ve seen 8-yr olds going up the Half Dome cables….but wow.
See the news blip:
Carpe Diem!
That will wrap it for 2022. Your next shot is to enter the lottery in March 2023. As far as I know…no one terminally fell off the cables. And that’s good. (really, Capt Obvious?)
Very little bad activity save for the occasional trip/fall accidents.
Of course, you can still go up to the top…but you need to pull up on the cables that are resting on the rock. The pipes and boards are secured for next spring. Only a moron (yes I said it) would go up using only the cable. A woman died in 2007 and another in 2008 doing that. Unless you are a darn good big wall climber, just hike a trail instead.
I didn’t go to Yosemite once this year. Too many things were closed. The permit system just to get in was a bummer. No more impluse trips up. I’m in San Jose, about 5 hours drive. Glacier Point closed and other work was going on. Nah. Instead, I drove Rt 66 to Seligman, visited Iceland and played with my dog “Yosey” … as in Yosemite.
Next month is a trip to Oregon, then December is a scuba trip to the Cayman Islands. January I’m giving a talk at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, then going to the Barrett-Jackson old car auction in Scottsdale.
All this under the umbrella of Carpe Diem – Seize the day.
Miles from Valley / altitude
0.0 4003 Start of Hike – Camp Curry – our lodging
0.5 4093 Happy Isles – John Muir Trailhead.
1.5 4464 Jct, John Muir Trail with Mist Trail at the Vernal Fall Bridge.
2.1 5062 Top of Vernal Fall
2.4 5360 Silver Apron Bridge
3.1 6095 Junction of John Muir Trail with Mist Trail. Make left onto JMT.
3.7 6120 Lower Jct. on right with trail to Little Yosemite Valley Camp. Bear left at fork.
4.3 6160 Upper Jct. on right with trail to Little Yosemite Valley Camp. Bear left at fork.
5.6 7000 Junction John Muir Trail with Half Dome Trail. Make left onto Half Dome Trail.
6.3 7227 Jct. with spur on right to spring.
7.3 7900 Base of sub dome. Ranger checks permits.
7.5 8402 Base of cables.
7.7 8842 Half Dome
9.1 7227 Jct. with spur on left to spring.
9.8 7000 Junction John Muir Trail with Half Dome Trail. Make right onto John Muir Trail south.
11.1 6160 Upper Jct. on left with trail to Little Yosemite Valley Camp. Bear right at fork.
11.7 6120 Lower Jct. on left with trail to Little Yosemite Valley Camp. Bear right at fork.
Stay straight onto Mist Trail.
At junction of John Muir Trail with Mist Trail, make left on JMT and descend to fall.
12.4 5960 Top of Nevada Fall.
12.6 6000 Jct. Panorama Trail – make right.
13.7 5960 Clark Point – View – jct. with trail toward Merced River on right.
15.0 4400 Jct. John Muir Trail with Mist Trail at the Vernal Fall Bridge. Make left to stay on JMT.
16.0 4093 Yosemite Valley – Happy Isles – John Muir Trailhead.
16.5 4003 End of Hike – Curry Village.
Look at the projects scheduled for this year….a whole lot of work going on and many “attractions” closed. Come back in 2023!
