Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Yosemite Question

Hi all.

We are heading up to Yosemite and I've heard that the NPS is considering removing the cables from Half Dome? Has anyone heard about this? I imagine due to possible liability issues? I know they typically have the poles and boards up around end of May, but I've heard secondhand that they are considering just taking everything down.

Also, regarding the opening of Tioga Road through the park, how would you characterize the snow level this year vs. prior years? We were looking to do Mt Dana or possibly Mt Gibbs and if the road is closed, it seems we'll have to opt for something else due to access to the trailhead.

If we cannot do Half Dome, Dana, or Gibbs, does anyone have any other favorite peaks to do there aside from the normal hikes around the valley?

Thanks!

The park announced last week that the cables would be put in place sometime this weekend, I believe, in advance of the Memorial Day crowds.

I don't know what the long-term plan is; I do know it's very crowded on weekends -- a couple of years ago it took us more than an hour to ascend the cables -- and there is concern about both public safety (people who try to climb on the outside of the cables) and environmental degredation on the summit, which is habitat for the rare Mount Lyell salamander.

The cables are up for the season.

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

"The Half Dome cables are up for the season. The cables usually remain up through Columbus Day, which is October 12 this year."

Heed what R.J. Secor said:

"...the 46 degree rock slope between the cables has become polished, and in places it is disagreeably slippery."

Oh great, they are up now. Thanks. Yes, we are going to plan this according to the weather.

Has anyone combined Half Dome with Clouds Rest for a long Dayhike? I am assuming this is roughly 25 miles, +6,000ft gain?

I am glad to hear the cables are up. Now I just need Tioga Rd to open before June 11th. I too was thinking of climbing Dana, as that will help with acclimation for our Whitney climb the next week. I just wish we had more time.

Done this type day elsewhere - best to be out there in good hiking shape beforehand AND well-acclimatized to "just" 9,000 ft AND when it is not summer 90+ degrees.

For a long Half Dome alternative, try Glacier Point to Half Dome and back. It is 22 miles. Seems like it might be less altitude change compared to Happy Isles-Half Dome-Happy Isles, but it is not when you add up all the ups and downs. Main advantage: more "up high" scenery, fewer people, breaks up the hike so it is not all up one way, all down on return. Disadvantage: ends with uphill from Ililloette to GP, transportation planning. Misses the Grand Staircase but I assume you have already done that. Well worth it. Harvey

To do Half Dome in one day start out at about 5 am and be ready to use a flashlight on the return, if you intend to spend any time up there. I like to go up the Mist trail and down the JMT its easier on the knees. If you are in shape go with a light pack it should be easy to do, Snacks, water, bring a filter to refill along the way. Be prepared for cold weather, rain.

I heard today Tioga was on target to open around May 22nd. But check with the park to make sure.

In September 2007, I did a dayhike beginning at the east end of Tenaya Lake, then to the summit of Cloud's Rest, then over and up to the summit of Half Dome, and finally back down to Yosemite Valley via Happy Isles. I began at 7:00 a.m. and didn't finish until around 9:00 p.m. (see below). I calculated that it was the same distance as the full round trip to/from Whitney from Whitney Portal via the main trail, which is ~22.5 miles. Don't know the net elevation gain. It was one of my favorites hikes ever. (Now, here's the "see below" part) -- It took quite a bit longer to finish than it normally would have because this was the hike on which I met an ill-prepared couple on the summit of Half Dome and then assisted them off the mountain and back down to Yosemite Valley. The last 1.5 hours were in the dark with only my headlamp and supplies between the three of us, and with the 50-something husband significantly dehydrated, despite giving him Gatorade periodically all the way down (translated, his leg muscles were toast most of the way down, in addition to my having the only source of light once it got dark going down all the steps from Nevada Falls, and then after that, the Mist Trail). My best guesstimate is that helping them down in this way probably added a full 3 hours to what would have originally been an estimated 6pm return time to Yosemite Valley, which means my total NET hike time (including time spent on both summits) would have normally been approx. 11 hours, and not the 14 hours it actually took on this occasion.

Advantage of this route versus Happy Isles-Half Dome-Happy Isles is that, except for your summits of Cloud's Rest and Half Dome, you are basically going downhill toward Yosemite Valley most of the time. Another nice advantage is that Cloud's Rest has an even better panoramic view than Half Dome (which is wonderful to begin with), and it's hard to beat looking down on Half Dome from the summit of Cloud's Rest which is ~1,100 higher than Half Dome.

As mentioned by others, being in good shape is very helpful (I was in virtually the best shape of my life at that time and it made a big difference), and I had also done Whitney the week before doing Yosemite, which helped with the acclimating. Definitely take a light and a good water filter; but a headlamp would be much better than a flashlight.

CaT

A couple years ago, I hiked from the valley to Cloud's Rest and then up Half Dome on the way back down to the valley. It rivals a Whitney day hike in terms of ass kicking.
So...I guess if you can day hike Whitney in less than 10 hours, try it! Or bring a headlamp.

My brother and I have done "The Double" (Half Dome and Cloud's Rest) many times as a season opening hike. We usually follow it up with Whitney in early July (5 July this year) and then stay in Kings Canyon the rest of the year (unless I get an offer to jump in on someone's Whitney permit).

Get an early start - 0400 or so - to beat the herd up to the cables. Come back down to the fork in the road and head up to Cloud's Rest, where you get great views of Half Dome. Usually if it's early in the year there is some snow to deal with at Cloud's Rest. On your way down, be ready to be assulted by the poor planners who tried to do Half Dome with two cans of soda and no flashlight. It is a good Whitney warm up. Five or six years ago you would be lucky to see three people all day after you split off to Cloud's Rest. Now it's getting more and more crowded. We used to have people yell after us that we were going the wrong way. This weekend I'm hoping to sneak in with my 12 year old to do just Cloud's Rest so he can finish his Boy Scout Hiking Merit Badge. I hope I can find a spot to park. ............................................DUG

DUG, have you ever thought about leaving the Half Dome trail and cutting across (nearly due east) to catch the Clouds Rest trail?

Looking at maps, it seems like following approximately the 7500' contour might work.

Seems to me one could save dropping and re-climbing about 500'.

Thanks Laura! That might put me in Lee Vining / Mammoth on Monday.

Yosemite Falls & Half Dome should both be on the "worlds greatest hikes" list.

Good luck and have fun.

After doing Cloud's Rest - Half Dome in 2007, I wondered the same thing -- sure would save a lot of down-then-back-up.

CaT

Steve - you mean make it easier? Um, NO, that never came to mind. Now that it has come up, I will ignore it. Thanks for the suggestion, but I like MILES and GAIN..........................................DUG

Tioga entrance looks like it's been plowed recently.

How about Tuolumne to Vogelsang via Lyell, to Merced Lake to Half Dome to Clouds Rest to Sunrise back to Tuolomne, and then finish with a day hike of Whitney??

Um, let me get a map and look at it. I've honestly only hiked Half Dome and Cloud's Rest via Happy Isles. Usually just one trip to Yosemite per year. I'm kinda fond of King's Canyon.

Tioga Pass is clear up to the East Entrance of Yosemite.The road on the other side looked clear to me.This was as of last Friday the 15th

Thanks everyone for all the info. This is very helpful. You guys are great. You're getting me more exciting to come out again!

I've done Half Dome as a dayhike twice from Happy Isles and despite the number of people, still love this hike, especially doing it early. My girlfriend has never been there, so we will be doing it again this time (weather permitting)! I am also bringing a harness/via ferrata type setup for her just in case, for safety on the cables. Consequently, we are planning to do Whitney again in September :-D

We are both in pretty good shape, which is why we were contemplating the Clouds Rest "add-on", BUT we don't want to start the hike in the dark, as she has never seen the trail before, so she would like to see it at least in some predawn light to take in the scenery and Vernall Falls. For the first 15-20 minutes, from what I recall we can do via headlight before we get to the steps by Vernal Falls right? Would starting at 5AM work out given sunrise times next week and still allow the option to go to Clouds rest after Half Dome and make it back before 8pm or so? (It took me about 8-8.5 hrs to roundtrip half Dome last time, cardoor to cardoor).

For those who have climbed both in one long daytrip have you tried reversing the order? i.e. starting from Happy Isles and either doing (i) Half Dome first then Clouds Rest or (ii) Clouds rest then Half Dome? I am thinking doing Half Dome first as we will have a bit more energy where we will need our heads (on the cables) and will avoid the crowds encountered if we do it second.

I've always like to knock out 1/2 Dome 1st to stay ahead of the crowds. If you start around 0400, you're not getting too much headlamp time. Go when it's a full moon and you won't miss anything.

When are you planning on doing 1/2 Dome?