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All Locations > California > Yosemite NP > Yosemite Valley > Half Dome > Southwest Face > Snake Dike (5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b R)
The descent. Honestly this is the worst part of the climb. Hordes of people, early season with the cables laying on the rock. Dangerous, to say the least.
ID 105962395 ·
The Tree: starting point for Snake Dike
Getting a calf workout
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Sarge
May 16, 2007
“The descent. Honestly this is the worst part of the climb. Hordes of people, early season with the cables laying on the rock. Dangerous, to say the least. ”  

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George Bell
Boulder, CO
George Bell   Boulder, CO
But in my experience, the more people the merrier when descending the cables when they are against the rock. Everybody grab the cable about 4 feet apart and raise to chest level, then all walk down backwards in unison. Much easier than a single person going down. May 16, 2007
Sam Dudley
Salt Lake City, UT
Sam Dudley   Salt Lake City, UT
Well, the best way to do the cables, which are the scariest part of the climb by far, is to just keep your harness on and then attach two slings. As you make your way to each bar, move one sling down to the next session and then the other. This way, you are always protected. It takes a bit longer and gets a bit tedious after a while, but it definitely beats killing yourself on the down climb (no climber wants to go out like that!!!). Apr 15, 2013

Nearby Photos

Extreme stemming on Snake Dike. Thanks Jason Halladay for the beta!
The west face of Half Dome, home of the Snake Dike.
Showing that the angle and the texture of the rock make the runouts feel very comfortable.
Stemming two dikes up high on Snake Dike. Sometimes it pays to be 6'5". September 2007.
DK leading up the fourth pitch.
High Res photo of the route, as well as top slabs as shot from Glacier Point. Most accurate perspective you can get of the route at large. Although my topo drawing may wander near the top. Note the party on route and people on the top for scale. <br> <br> www.mattkuehlphoto.com
Length of the actual climb, and a more accurate look at the NEVER ENDING SLAB that you hike up after the 8th pitch
Dike hikin' on Snake Dike
Start of p 4
Coming up the slabs after the technical climbing was done. The smoke from the El Portal fire that started while we were up there is visible in the background.
The real reason for climbing Snake Dike - standing on the summit of Half Dome. If you're scared of heights, I wouldn't recommend looking over the edge. April 24, 2013
Atop half a dome, via S.D. 17 Sep 2011.