Mrs hup and I, along with a group of friends/runners/co workers, went up to Yosemite on Saturday to hike the trail to the top of Half Dome. The hike is roughly 17 miles, with about 5000' of climb. I wore my Garmin, but it ran out of battery at the 9 hour mark (I'd been wondering just how long the battery would last, now I know).
The hike itself was beautiful. Weather was clear with no thunderstorms, but HOT! The high temp for Yosemite Valley (4000' elevation) was predicted in the high 90s. We walked beside the river for a good part of the way, including the impressive Vernal and Nevada Falls. We came up on two deer, one that we nearly literally ran in to! The most arduous part of the hike is the last half mile or so, where you gain the last 1000' of elevation. At that point you are first essentially scrambling up the side of a big boulder. So, first there are switchbacks and steps cut right into the rock, followed by the infamous "cables" that are strung up the back side of the actual dome. The going is slow there, but worth it once you reach the top (8820' according to the Garmin). Descending the cables then the switchbacks is as treacherous as ascending, with the "loose granite two step" being the dance move de jour. It was a grind coming down (although not even close to a "TimLooney-esque" ordeal ). My feet and toes were very sore from being jammed up against the sides and front of my shoes, and quads and calves were having a serious discussion with each other as well. We got back to the car a bit less than 12 hours after we started, much sweatier and dirtier, but with plenty of smiles and laughs.
So, here's what the Garmin showed before it pooped out
Heading to the trailhead, on the valley floor
The Mist Trail, with Vernal Falls in the background
climbing
looking back down Mist Trail from the top of Vernal Falls
The hike itself was beautiful. Weather was clear with no thunderstorms, but HOT! The high temp for Yosemite Valley (4000' elevation) was predicted in the high 90s. We walked beside the river for a good part of the way, including the impressive Vernal and Nevada Falls. We came up on two deer, one that we nearly literally ran in to! The most arduous part of the hike is the last half mile or so, where you gain the last 1000' of elevation. At that point you are first essentially scrambling up the side of a big boulder. So, first there are switchbacks and steps cut right into the rock, followed by the infamous "cables" that are strung up the back side of the actual dome. The going is slow there, but worth it once you reach the top (8820' according to the Garmin). Descending the cables then the switchbacks is as treacherous as ascending, with the "loose granite two step" being the dance move de jour. It was a grind coming down (although not even close to a "TimLooney-esque" ordeal ). My feet and toes were very sore from being jammed up against the sides and front of my shoes, and quads and calves were having a serious discussion with each other as well. We got back to the car a bit less than 12 hours after we started, much sweatier and dirtier, but with plenty of smiles and laughs.
So, here's what the Garmin showed before it pooped out
Heading to the trailhead, on the valley floor
The Mist Trail, with Vernal Falls in the background
climbing
looking back down Mist Trail from the top of Vernal Falls
