This past weekend I hiked Half Dome and what an experience! It will forever be etched in my memory for as long as I live. Living in CA all my life, I have never been to Yosemite before. I can't believe it has taken me this long. The journey was grueling but so worth it. 8 miles up with over a 5000 foot elevation gain and 9 miles down for we took a safer path since we were heading back down at night. I went with a group of people to celebrate my brother's wife's brother's 40th birthday. We made the trek starting around 10:30 with about almost 60 people in our group. The plan was to hike Half Dome and get there right before sunset and wear our headlamps on to have a professional photographer take some pics. (I can't wait to see the professional pics) Needless to say, coming down the rock at night with only headlamps as your light source proved to be a little nerve racking. Would I do it again? Hell yes! Here's some pics for all you nature loving, hiking junkies out there. More here too: http://www.flickr.com/photos/34295608@N ... 529459307/

On the top with our headlamps on.


The cables!


No turning back now!










Coming down off the dome.


Me and my lady

that looks like an amazing time

I was just thinking the same thing . . . an awesome way to celebrate a birthday!

Yosemite rules!

I love that sort of thing and being outside all day long... unfortunately my wife and child don't.

Sounds like a great trip.

sick trip! completely breathtaking.

Just beautiful!!! We hiked as far up as the closest set of falls??, but I've never been to the top.

my hiking group has talked about doing a Yosemite trip this Fall to include Half Dome......scares the shit out of me but I'll have to do it.

Wow - simply awesome images!

Gorgeous pics Jeff, looked like an amazing trip. I've seen that place on the travel channel before and always thought about how cool it would be to go, but being scared to death of hieghts won't let that happen I'm sure.

I'd like to try this one day--awesome adventure!

It was an amazing adventure and I would highly recommend doing the trek if you're into hiking, the outdoors, or are a thrill seeker. I too have a fear of heights but I battled through it and the reward will never be forgotten.

The 1st dome is called "sub-dome" and it is a hard climb. Even more-so than Half Dome.


As soon as you get the top of sub-dome, this is your view of the cables to the top.


However next time, I'd like to do it in a smaller group. We did have a couple complications. Coming back down, a person from our group started having breathing problems and was getting light headed. He ended up staying on the dome with family and a skillful hiker. The rangers were called (you get amazing reception on your cell) and they hiked up after sun down. To make a long story short, they did not feel comfortable bringing him down at night and ended up staying the night on the top. At sunrise, he was medivaced out and taken to a hospital for he had a collapsed lung.

And then on the journey home on the John Muir Trail, about half way down, a girl had broken her foot. She needed to be carried a couple miles. Since I was helping out my brother since it was his and his wife's shindig, after all that was said and done, I got back to camp at 5:30 in the morning and the sun and birds were waking up.

madness!

Amazing, it looks like your climbing on the moon !
The lung story is freakish. How sad.

wow. I hear you on hiking in smaller groups. Going on hikes with people you know can handle what they're getting into is the way to go. Nothing worse than being in a bigger group with all different levels of hikers...not fun for anyone. Not to say that was the case in your instance but seems to be a common occurrence.

damn this looks awesome. last time i was in yosemite i was still a young chap. i want to go back now to truly appreciate it

This sounds like an amazing adventure. Never been to Yosemite, but we really want to go. Thanks for the fantastic pics and story!

I went to Yosemite for the first time ever earlier this year. Went the tent route....soooooo cold! The morning we left it started snowing.

wow, jeff! when you were telling me about this a few weeks ago, I had no idea it was quite like this since i've never been to yosemite.. It looks and sounds like an amazing adventure. I hope to make it out there at some point!