A must-do hike of a lifetime

Shown is the trail leading to Half Dome.

This is my personal and exciting adventure while I was hiking to the summit of Half Dome in Yosemite.

I departed from Oakhurst at 4:40 a.m. and arrived at the parking lot at Happy Isles Trail head at 6. I put on my boots, grabbed my pack and started my adventure toward Half Dome at 8,836 feet.

My goal was to complete this hike before the sun goes down in the evening.

The beginning of this trail was not unfamiliar to me. Six days earlier I hiked along this same trail to Nevada Fall.

This trail is hiked by a large percentage of the five million people who travel into the park each year. Most hikers never hike beyond Nevada Fall. I‘m hoping I’ll have enough daylight to complete this adventure before it disappears.

As the shadows were giving up their territory to the awakening of daylight, the landscape was starting to show off its beauty. Next, the wooden bridge crossing the Merced River came into view.

Not as much water was flowing under its wooden structure during the fall season. This all changes in the springtime with the snow melting. During the spring runoff, the noise can be deafening from the water that is cascading over all those rocks as it flows to the valley below.

Tony Krizan

It was at that location I met with Todd and his wife, Ruth. They were from Pennsylvania and spending their vacation hiking in the Sierra Nevada.

After a short conversation, we decided to hike together since we had the same destination for the day. Since Ruth was hiking at a slower pace and she had no desire to climb those cables to the top of Half Dome, all she wanted to do was enjoy the scenery along this historic trail.

When we arrived at the top of Vernal Fall we could look over the safety railing at the canyon below to follow our progress arriving at this location. Next we skirted around Emerald Lake which acquired its name from the reflection from the surrounding trees and the flat rock slabs on the bottom of the lake.

Albert and Elmie Snow are shown sitting at their resort between Vernal and Nevada Falls. In 1900 fire destroyed this location.

The water cascading down the angled rock slide was forming this emerald-colored lake before the water flows over Vernal Fall. The old growth cedar, pine and oak trees add to the surrounding beauty of this area.

After crossing the wooden bridge, the flat area between Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall was the location of Albert and Emile Snow’s resort. This location was very popular for vacationers during the late 1800s.

An accidental fire in 1900 destroyed the main structure and gust accommodations. If one is lucky, you may find a few pieces of broken dishes on the surface that has survived the test of time.

We arrived at the junction of the Mist Trail and John Muir Trail which led us to the turnoff tail to Half Dome. We also walked past the huge camping area called Little Yosemite Valley.

This area would be ideal to spend the night before starting one’s climb to the top of Half Dome. Maybe I’ll attempt to stay here when I climb Half Dome for the second time.

Almost dry Vernal Fall from Mist Trail.

Within 15 minutes, we arrived at the junction trail to Half Dome. This trail was easy to follow as it switched its way between the trees of this old-growth forest.

As we got closer to the Dome, you could see the beak of the mountain off in the distance. Now we are confronted by the many switchback stair steps that would elevate us to the cables that assist us to the top.

My advice is that a hiker should start exercising their legs before attempting this climb. These steps before the introduction of the cables are 15 to 20 inches high. One could burn up excess energy before starting their assent.

Construction of these steps was a great idea because they prevent slipping on the slick surface of the mountain.

Just ahead I could see the cables stretching to the top at a 50-degree angle. I stopped and took a few photos at this point.

For safety reasons, the park service left gloves to protect a person’s hands from those cables. Every 10 feet, posts were anchored to the rock for support of the cables and a two-by-four wooden slat anchored between those supports to assist foot placement.

Yosemite Valley from southwest point on high point of Half Dome.

With the cables in each hand, pulling yourself forward and your feet following for support, you pull yourself to the top. The higher I climbed the hidden beauty of the surrounding mountains gave me the energy to strive forward to my ultimate goal.

The view from the top of Half Dome was great! I could see North Dome, Sentinel Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, Tenaya Canyon and many other landmarks.

Todd and I stayed on the top for over an hour before starting our slide down the cables. Yes, I said slide!

I grabbed each cable and slid down between the 10-foot supports. This procedure kept me from climbing down backwards and I was at the bottom twice as fast.

Waiting for us at the bottom of the cables was Todd’s wife Ruth. She was much slower than us but she enjoyed the scenery we missed hurrying to the top.

Nevada Fall with almost no water flowing over the fall.

We took the John Muir Trail back to the valley floor instead of the Mist Trail. After another four hours of hiking we reached the valley floor at Happy Isles Trailhead at 5 p.m. We had more than 15 hours and 20 minutes of memories all in one day.

This hike is a must do for everyone to complete once in a lifetime.

Tony Krizan describes himself as an “adventurer” and he explores the Sierra Nevada range on a regular basis. He can be reached at tonykrizan@hotmail.com.