The view from the top of Half Dome is breathtaking
Description
The classic profile of Half Dome, recognizable world-wide, hovers over the east end of Yosemite Valley. A victim of glaciation, the once-dome was shaved in half until its northern aspect was as sheer as its southern aspect was rounded. Less accessible than many of its Valley neighbors, Half Dome still sees a lot of climber activity, mostly centered on the Snake Dike (5.7) route, or the Regular Northwest Face (5.9 A1) route, which is offers many aspiring big-wall climbers their first experience on a remote long route.
Getting There
Half Dome takes a bit of work to get to. There are generally two approaches used by climbers:
1) Hike up from Happy Isles up the Mist Trail through Little Yosemite Valley (approx. 8 miles to the shoulder of Half Dome) or
2) Head over from Happy Isles past Mirror Lake and hike up the "Slabs Approach"
THE SLABS APPROACH IS NOT SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS OR ANYONE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE ROUTE!!!
Wanna feel like a hero? Here's how. Get your gear and partner in order. Do an excruciating approach up thousands of feet, passing hundreds of knackered tourists from all over the world. Although a few will recognize you as a climber, most will look at you like you're a bit off in the head for shlepping an enormous, orange plastic backpack up the several million steps. And in many ways they're right, for you're about to pull off one of the mo...[more]
The death slabs are not that bad. Find a topo, such as Chris Mac's in Supertopo. It is pretty chill as long as you don't get off route. If it looks scary, you probably aren't on the right path.
By John McNamee Administrator From: Littleton, CO Dec 13, 2006
I haven't done the "death slabs" in years but if I remember correctly the key was being familiar with it prior to hiking it with a haul bag. Zip up it with a day bag to get to know the route.
It's a lot of effort with heavy loads so break it down and do it over a couple of days. It's the only approach I have used.
I echo with Karsten just mentioned as well. I just brought the latest version of the Supertopo's Big Walls guidebook and it has a great description of it.
When descending the cables on a crowded day you may find it easier to clip into the cables with a binner attached to a sling then step outside of the cables. Use another sling and binner to clip past the poles so that you are always clipped in.
Half Dome
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