Yosemite
Half Dome
Summer 2024
We hiked Half Dome in August 2024. The trip was 16 miles, with 7,000 feet of elevation gain. We hiked over three days and two nights at a relaxed pace, staying in Little Yosemite Valley Campground both nights.
Day 1
On the first day, we drove from the Bay Area and reached Yosemite around 3 PM. We weren't sure where to check in, so we stopped at the visitor center and looked around. That turned out to be helpful: we hadn't expected it to be so hot, and each of us bought a hat for the trip. We eventually found the check-in location, then drove to a parking lot near the Mist Trail trailhead, which was still a 0.2-mile walk away.
We started hiking around 4:30 PM and enjoyed the climb. We followed the Mist Trail toward the campground. It was fairly steep, with quite a few people on the trail, but the crowds thinned after we passed the waterfalls. We made it to Little Yosemite Valley Campground just as the sun was setting, found a site, set up camp, and ate dinner. We looked at the stars for a while and then went to bed.
Day 2
The next morning, we woke around 6 AM and ate ramen and oatmeal for breakfast. Our goal was to reach Half Dome reasonably early so the cables wouldn't be too crowded. We removed extra gear from our packs, carried just water and snacks, and started hiking. The route was beautiful, especially as we gained elevation and the views opened up.
At the base of Sub Dome, we had to show our permits to a ranger. A couple of people waiting near the entrance asked whether we had extra permits, but unfortunately, we didn't. Then we started our ascent of Sub Dome. It was quite steep, and we took our time. One of my friends spilled half the water from his Nalgene while trying to refill it.
We made it to the top of Sub Dome, where many people were hanging out. The cables didn't seem too busy, so we sat down and ate a quick snack. It's discouraged to leave packs and water at the base, so we left only our jackets and trekking poles before starting up. The slope looked almost vertical and was slightly unnerving at first, but it didn't feel as bad once we were on the cables.
We made it up in about 15 minutes. The views were incredible, and the summit was much larger than I had realized. We sprawled out and relaxed as the day warmed. The sky was clear with few clouds, so we soaked in the expansive views. After about 30 minutes and some photos, we decided to descend. By then, the cables were much busier, and it took us almost half an hour to get down. Much of that time was spent coordinating with people coming the other way about who would move when.
We made it down and relaxed again on top of Sub Dome. We chatted with groups who were intimidated by the cables and reminded them that they had already completed the harder climb up Sub Dome. Another hiker heard that one group was nervous and gave them his harness, which was a very kind thing to do. Then we headed back to the campground. The return trip was much quicker, but we were all extremely thirsty because we hadn't brought enough water.
We got back to the campground around 2 PM and had a late lunch. Then we relaxed in the backpacking chairs I had recently bought until evening and went to bed.
Day 3
In the morning, we ate breakfast and filled our water bottles. We decided to take the John Muir Trail down rather than the Mist Trail. It was another clear day, and this was one of the most beautiful parts of the hike. We spent some time at the top of Vernal Fall, enjoying the view of the valley. As we continued down, we stopped to take photos almost every five minutes. It was amazing to see Half Dome, Liberty Cap, and Nevada Fall all at once.
We made it back to the car before lunch and drove back to the Bay Area.
