Half Dome

The back-side of Half Dome has wonderful views of Mt. Starr King and beyond.

Around the Edges

The Hike to Climb Half Dome

Working our way with easy walking around to the edges of Half Dome, starting with the back side, we are rewarded with excellent views in all directions, particularly to the south and southeast. The whole vista of the Merced drainage is laid out before our feet in a way that defies reality. It is all almost too much to grasp, almost beyond comprehension.

People do insane things on Half Dome. I saw one young guy go out on that finger of rock and do a head-stand! The guy in this picture (who is taking a picture) is sitting over 3000 feet of air straight down. See the little bird perched on the edge? He can fly. Humans cannot. Keep that in mind when on Half Dome. Left of center is Mt. Hoffman, another interesting dayhike destination. John Muir would hike from Yosemite Valley to the top of Mt. Hoffman in one day. That is superhuman.

Interestingly, you can walk safely a good ways down the slope of the dome in all directions (except one!) to help you get lofty unobstructed views and photographs. You should take advantage of your time there (this is no everyday trip). Some people may have to fight the nagging urgency to get back down the cables as soon as possible and get it over with. Fight that urge because that may be the easiest part of the trip! Take your time and explore, unless it is getting late or threatening weather is forming.

Just below mid picture you can see the yellow prow-cliff which most maps identify as "The Diving Board". It is also the spot where Ansel Adams took one of his most famous picture. Note the people sitting for the view. Above and right of mid-picture is Glacier Point (which has a pretty radical lean), with the dash of Sentinel dome directly above.

Heading to the western slope, you obtain great views of the Illiloutte Creek drainage, more Starr King, Glacier point and Yosemite Valley. Working our way back to the Half Dome face, we hope we are not graced by a not too uncommon earthquake. However, we relax in the knowledge of the chances of that happening precisely when we are there are extremely slim. We just have to concentrate on not doing something stupid.