One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome
2nd EDITION 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Carpe Diem Experience, LLC (Rick Deutsch)
Text and photos by the author, except where indicated.
Cover design: Larry B. Van Dyke and Scott McGrew
Book design and layout: Andreas Schueller and Annie Long
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Deutsch, Rick.
One best hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome / Rick Deutsch. — 2nd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-89997-674-7
ISBN-10: 0-89997-674-3
1. Hiking—California—Yosemite National Park—Guidebooks. 2. Hiking—California—Half Dome—Guidebooks. 3. Half Dome (Calif.)—Guidebooks. 4. Yosemite National Park (Calif.)—Guidebooks. I. Title.
GV199.42.C22Y664 2012
917.94’47—dc23
2011053068
Manufactured in the United States of America
| Published by: | Wilderness Press |
| P.O. Box 43673 | |
| Birmingham, Alabama 35243 | |
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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher, except for brief quotations used in reviews.
SAFETY NOTICE: Although Wilderness Press and the author have made every attempt to ensure that the information in this book is accurate at press time, they are not responsible for any loss, damage, injury, or inconvenience that may occur to anyone while using this book. Readers are advised to recheck phone numbers, prices, addresses, and other material. You are responsible for your own safety and health while in the wilderness. The fact that a trail is described in this book does not mean that it will be safe for you. The potential for falls, heat exhaustion, dehydration, hyperventilation, or other problems are possible (though not likely). Be aware that trail conditions can change from day to day. Always check local conditions and the weather, and know your own limitations.
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank:
My wife, Diane, for her patience during my many hikes of Half Dome, my training, and the hours I spent at the keyboard.
My sister, Michelle Deutsch LaMarche, who did the hike before me and encouraged me to do it the first time.
The National Park Service and the Yosemite Conservancy for their support of this precious American resource.
Dan Anderson for his efforts in digitizing many of the early Yosemite historical manuscripts in the Yosemite Online Library so that everyone may enjoy them.
Harv Galic for his compilation of the Chronicles of Early Ascents of Half Dome.
The many new friendships that Half Dome has introduced me to, including Sonke Kastner, Sister Kathy Littrell, Scott Gehrman, Pat Townsley, NPS ranger Mark Marschall, NPS ranger Daniel Schaible, Pete Devine (Yosemite Conservancy), and my many Facebook fans, blog readers, and audiences.
My hiking buddy, Yosey (as in Yosemite), a 5-pound Yorkie whose zest for life inspires me.
Rick Deutsch
Mr. Half Dome
Contents
2 GEOLOGY OF YOSEMITE AND HALF DOME
Construction of the Cable Route
The Slippery Slope
Half Dome Today
Overview of the Half Dome Hike
Leave No Trace
Intensity
Weather
Altitude Sickness
Mosquitoes
Ticks
Waterborne Critters
The Falls
Falling
Wildlife
Arriving via CA 41 Northbound
Arriving via CA 140 Northbound
Arriving via CA 120 Westbound
Arriving via CA 120 Eastbound
Entering Yosemite
Accommodations
Permits