Route Overlay Snake Dike

All Locations > California > Yosemite NP > Yosemite Valley > Valley S Side > D. Half Dome > 4. Southwest Face > Snake Dike (5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b R) (Pitches 1-8)

Route Overlay Snake Dike

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Almost a full view of the route.

Snake Dike / Snake Dance 2022 accident diagram

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Steph Abegg

Jan 23, 2026

“Route Overlay Snake Dike”

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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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www.mattkuehlphoto.com

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

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!!!

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

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

Approach beta from Clint Cummins

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

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

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!

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

Midnight climbing on the dike

Descending--late May 2011

Start of p 4

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

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

The huge arch on the upper 5.easy pitches gives a cool perspective on the exfoliation of the granite.

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.

DK leading up the fourth pitch.

Dike hikin' on Snake Dike

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.

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

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

Almost a full view of the route.

Route Overlay Snake Dike

Snake Dike / Snake Dance 2022 accident diagram

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

Multiple parties on Snake Dike

Snake Dike by @drawingsfordirtbags

DK on pitch 4

A bunch of parties on Snake Hike

Big run out on easy rock FUN

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

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

Route Overlay Snake Dike.

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.

Trav Strong leading out pitch 2.

Looking down the route to the base of the climb.

Start of third pitch. During a full moon ascent!

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

DK on Pitch 2.

The approach, quite gorgeous really.

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

Looking up at half dome from the valley photo by Travis Maliska

Snake Dyke,<br>
several parties can be seen on the route.

Lane Gyger, Snake Dike. Seth Anderson Photo

There is a fun little pseudo roof to go over about half way up. - Lloyd Ritchey

Looking east from Glacier Point.

The Tree: starting point for Snake Dike

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

Getting a calf workout

Me and J on the Visor!

Snake Dike topo

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.

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

Ultra Mega 3D beta for your enjoyment
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https://earth.google.com/earth/d/1XUnxziJCl_Z7BVNEEDdfkjk916FACfjZ

Top of P2!!!

The traverse

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.

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