Safer alternate start for Snake Dike. Photo borrowed from "looks easy from here" at SuperTopo and edited.

All Locations > California > Yosemite NP > Yosemite Valley > Valley S Side > D. Half Dome > 3. Southwest Face > Snake Dike (5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b R)

Safer alternate start for Snake Dike. Photo borrowed from "looks easy from here" at SuperTopo and edited.

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The huge arch on the upper 5.easy pitches really shows the different layers of granite.

A really cool feature we found while scrambling the upper part of Halfdome El Cap is in the back ground...

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4.8 from 9 votes

Floyd Hayes

Jun 22, 2017

“Safer alternate start for Snake Dike. Photo borrowed from "looks easy from here" at SuperTopo and edited.”

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Nearby Photos

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.
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The west face of Half Dome, home of the Snake Dike.

Extreme stemming on Snake Dike. Thanks Jason Halladay for the beta!

Descending--late May 2011

Stemming two dikes up high on Snake Dike. Sometimes it pays to be 6'5". September 2007.

Showing that the angle and the texture of the rock make the runouts feel very comfortable.

Length of the actual climb, and a more accurate look at the NEVER ENDING SLAB that you hike up after the 8th pitch

The real reason for climbing Snake Dike - standing on the summit of Half Dome. If you're scared of exposure, I wouldn't recommend looking over the edge :). April 24, 2013

Start of p 4

DK leading up the fourth pitch.

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.

Approach beta from Clint Cummins

Dike hikin' on Snake Dike

Midnight climbing on the dike

8/29/15 - Overlooking El Cap from the half-dome summit as the sun set and the full moon rose for our decent.

I got engaged on the top of SnakeDike. I clipped the engagement ring to the back of her harness as we were walking up the endless slabs! Amazing route worthy of a life long memory!

Atop half a dome, via S.D. 17 Sep 2011.

Adam standing on the "The Visor" at the Half Dome summit after climbing Snake Dike, April 24, 2013

The huge arch on the upper 5.easy pitches really shows the different layers of granite.

Safer alternate start for Snake Dike. Photo borrowed from "looks easy from here" at SuperTopo and edited.

A really cool feature we found while scrambling the upper part of Halfdome El Cap is in the back ground...

This is one of the exposed sections of the approach. There is over 100 feet of exposure. You can't fall here. There are several exposed sections like this. This is located at 37.738456, -119.538115 Photo taken March 19, 2015.

NOT COOL!!!! a hueco at a belay stance that is filled with PISS!!! This is gross and un acceptable... piss on the face off to the side of the route where it can evaporate and rinse in the rain... or in a bottle or whatever, the piss in the hole here has been cooking in the sun for weeks!!!

Almost a full view of the route.

DK on pitch 4

DK on Pitch 2.

Descending down the Half Dome Cables while they are down and w/o steps. Good idea to bring gloves

Multiple parties on Snake Dike

My dad and a view of the bottom half of the route... many parties wait at the base... glad we got an early start...

Big run out on easy rock FUN

Trav Strong leading out pitch 2.

Rope gunners scrambling to protect our followers near the top. Shot with my film camera.

Lost in the Sea of Slab on Snake Dike..John Dull

The Tree: starting point for Snake Dike

Looking down the route to the base of the climb.

The approach, quite gorgeous really.

As you start the 2nd Pitch from the 60 meter rope belay, there is a scenic traverse. From the climbers position you begin to ascend up and right to the next belay station. It'a a great place for a hero picture. This is located at 37.739662, -119.539587 March 19, 2015

View of the base of Snake Dike after exiting the treeline.

Looking east from Glacier Point.

Me and J on the Visor!

Getting a calf workout

This is the 5.5 section on the 1st Pitch if you are going to the 60 meter rope belay station. If you have a short rope, it would be the start of the second pitch. The photo shows the crack at 37.739681, -119.539680

Aerial image showing the approach from Little Yosemite trail. Cut left of Lost Lake, then follow cairns up and to the right almost to the base of Half Dome. Then cut across the base to the left.

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.

Top of P2!!!

3 pitch

End of the the pitch 2 traverse before the diagonal dike up to the belay. Climb straight up from here to link pitches 2 and 3 with a 60m or longer.

A bunch of parties on Snake Hike

The traverse

Pitch 5

Adam leading up Pitch 4 of Snake Dike, April 24, 2013. Once you are on the dike, the routefinding is minimal for pitches 4-6 - just follow the singular, massive vertical dike, resting to take in the amazing Valley views below.

Pitch 6<br>

On da dike

First pitch. Run it out and get moving.

Snake Dike topo

Marcy leading one of the upper pitches

Snake Dike

The Tree: starting point for Snake Dike

Looking up from the base.

Bring LOTS of water...