Half Dome

"The Prow" of Half Dome. It is not "The Diving Board" as some think: that is further to the west according to the 1:12 (7.5 minute) and 1:24 topo maps. That is me standing there. Below my feet is a rock cave that leads to the window ledge seen below and to the right of me. People go down there and dangle their feet over the window ledge, which is nutz. Or even crazier, people do what those people are doing below and to the left of me. Nothing but 4764 feet of air below straight down. Be careful out there.

The Prow

The Hike to Climb Half Dome

Finally, we come to the main attraction of Half Dome, "The Prow". It sticks out into the air at 8838 feet and looks down to 4074 feet for 4764 feet of air! Early and late in the day, it is the favorite perch of marmots. You will usually see plenty of bugs and birds flying around, and all this wildlife and other growing things is why the Park now prohibits camping on Half Dome. During the day in peak season you are likely to see dozens if not hundreds of people milling around The Prow area.

This is how a lot of people look over the edge of the face of Half Dome. They get down and kind of sneak up on the edge. Its not a bad idea. Then there are those sort of people near the left edge of the picture... The view down the face is...thrilling. El Capitan is at the upper left.

Check out The Prow, explore the little cave that leads to the window ledge and take plenty of pictures. This is a unique spot. If you are a little acrophobia, try just looking at the far views back from the verge until you grow accustom to your surrounding, then try checking the view as near the edge as your safety and nerve allows.

Speaking of thrilling, this IS the view down the face of Half Dome! That also is what is left of Mirror Lake down there in Yosemite Valley. The window ledge can be seen at the top of the image.

I don't want to keep harping on this...no, I DO want to keep harping on this! Don't do anything stupid out there near the edge! If you go over the edge, it is a long long way down, and you would have a long long time to think about the folly of your actions. If you go over, skydive to Mirror Lake: there may be more of you left to bury. Horseplay and practical jokes are not appropriate on Half Dome. Be safe. This is a serious matter.

The view from The Prow back to where I took the other pictures on this page. This seems to be the glacier trim line, with obvious glacial smoothing at the bottom, but none above. Clouds Rest above Tenaya Canyon is in the background.