Half Dome hike, spring break
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Hey all-
Perhaps there are questions I'm not even asking. If you have the answers to my questions, answers to questions I didn't ask, or helpful opinions please share! |
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Conrad Malinak wrote:Hey all- New to MP and new to posting to online forums in general, so bear with me. My gal and I are planning a spring break road trip from Spokane WA down to Yosemite and want to hike Half Dome. I called to check conditions and the ranger (or whoever answered the phone) wouldn't give me the time of day, I'm sure she thought I was a run of the mill tourist. Our plan is to camp in Little Yosemite Valley CG, day hike to top of Half Dome, and then hike all the way out. Or, stay another night in LYV if needed. Questions to some of the Yosemite Valley veterans- is this feasible during this year's late March? The innarwebz has provided a plethora of details about the varying inclement weather scenarios. Sounds like there's snow in the Valley. I'm wondering: *How deep will the snow be for the approach hike? Think it's possible for a beginner (my gal) and intermediate (me) backpacker with snowshoes? *Will there be snow/ice on top of Half Dome? If so, can it still be hiked? *Will the cables be iced over/inaccessible? Perhaps there are questions I'm not even asking. If you have the answers to my questions, answers to questions I didn't ask, or helpful opinions please share!I cannot comment on snow conditions, but the cables will not be up. The NPS removes the uprights and cross beams for the winter. The cables are still there, but may or may not be accessible or usable. |
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Marc801 wrote: I cannot comment on snow conditions, but the cables will not be up. The NPS removes the uprights and cross beams for the winter. The cables are still there, but may or may not be accessible or usable.Yeah, we know they won't be up. That's the beauty of this hike in the off season... no crowds. With a harness and a couple klemheist knots it's supposed to be a great hike/climb still. My accessibility question is tailored to whether the cables will be embedded in a ice/snow. |
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"I'm sure she thought I was a run of the mill tourist." |
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simplyput wrote:"I'm sure she thought I was a run of the mill tourist." Are you not?my first thought exactly |
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The rangers are NEVER going to tell you that you SHOULD go during the off season when the cables are down. So you need to craft questions accordingly. Key things I'd be asking them about would be conditions on the hike up to Little Yosemite Valley, which is quite steep, and how much snow is there in the shady sections. ONLINE INFO HERE: nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/… |
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Well, I'd like to think of myself as being outside the category of the average tourist. Kind of interesting to have a couple guys take a dig at me for something like that. I'm not a professional ultralight backpacker, or an extreme alpinist by any means, but I am certainly not the average day hiker. Thanks. |
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Conrad Malinak wrote:Well, I'd like to think of myself as being outside the category of the average tourist. Kind of interesting to have a couple guys take a dig at me for something like that. I'm not a professional ultralight backpacker, or an extreme alpinist by any means, but I am certainly not the average day hiker. Thanks.Bro. If you don't routinely put up sick 5.14 FAs or set FKTs on big mountains, you're literally no different than just the average overweight tourist that never walks more than a mile from their car. Seriously. Can't believe you don't know that. |
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Take a look at this Google Maps aerial shot of the trail going up there. Then compare the snow levels you see in it to the snow levels from the webcams. google.com/maps/place/Half+…@37.7472255,-119.5314296,703m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x8096f3ed4145417b:0x1f43b5027abbe048!8m2!3d37.7495807!4d-119.5242119 |
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Most people don't hike up there until the snow has melted, so I don't think you are going to get very good beta. Also the weather has been extremely erratic, so I don't think anyone can predict what is going to happen. Its suddenly very warm out here, so things will change rapidly. Keep in mind another snow storm could easily roll in anytime, covering everything again. |
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Does anyone know if crampons and an ice axe would make this go? Or would you be worried about the icy slab breaking and taking you with it? |
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Possible rain and snow in the forecast for the end of this week and beginning of next. |
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Michael McNutt wrote:Does anyone know if crampons and an ice axe would make this go? Or would you be worried about the icy slab breaking and taking you with it?No, it wouldn't make it a go. Because the real hazard is water runoff on incredibly polished, glaciated granite. Crampons and ice axe aren't going to help with that. |
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Austin Baird wrote: Bro. If you don't routinely put up sick 5.14 FAs or set FKTs on big mountains, you're literally no different than just the average overweight tourist that never walks more than a mile from their car. Seriously. Can't believe you don't know that.Austin is a troll. |
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#1 You won't be able to get to the base of the cables w/o skis. |
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Conrad Malinak wrote:Well, I'd like to think of myself as being outside the category of the average tourist. Kind of interesting to have a couple guys take a dig at me for something like that. I'm not a professional ultralight backpacker, or an extreme alpinist by any means, but I am certainly not the average day hiker.You're an "average tourist" because you asked about hiking the cables route on Half Dome in March during a huge snow year in the Sierra. |
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Last I heard mammoth had over 45' this year. Yes that is feet not inches. I think even considering this marks you as not experienced enough to consider yourself not a tourist. |
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This thread turned toxic. The guy was just asking for beta. |
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Here you go, bro. |
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Rough crowd. Though I can see how the "not a run of the mill tourist" set it off. |