Half Dome cables down

[RedBluff]

Done it. with and without. It's totally doable....but unwise.
There's risk even with the cables.
But hey you're young...LOL One of those kids that would probably want to get blasted by a jet engine.

Oh and a 1 am start is way early....make sure you've got good lamps.

I started at 6 am....lots of people, lots of chattering on the way up.....the way down is quiet as **** and everyone is going way faster too.

[Alan Block]

I did it in 73. Cables were 4-5 feet aprt with stanchions every 20 feet or so. Boards were fastened across the stanchions to rest on. The hard parts going up were the places where the granite stepped up. The hard parts going down were .... going down.

[SandDiegoDuner]

I have done both observation point and angel's landing in Zion NP in the middle of June. Neither was that bad compared to the hike to Kolob Arch hike... 15 miles round trip and is down hill going in and up hill on the way out. I've always wanted to do half dome and Mt. Whitney.

[peekay331]

Angel's Landing is way, way, easier than Half Dome. Angel's Landing is not a hike you need to prep for, if you're in decent shape. Half Dome is something that needs to be prepped for, regardless of your condition. I did it in 2006 on a whim. Left at 10:30am, and didn't get back until close to 2am. It was tiring. Whitney is even tougher.

[Whiterabbit]

Do you need a permit to do half dome with the cables down?

I assume the don't issue permits unless the cables are up, right?

Which begs the question, if true: what are the consequences if just going to do half dome anyways, while the cables are down, and you "get caught"?

Let's assume we are all able and fit people here, and so don't have to address the physical risks of climbing up with the cables down.

[NapalmCheese]

The last time I hiked up the mist trail before it was open (on my way to Mt. Clarke from the valley floor) I hopped the gate and eventually encountered the park staff on their way down from observing the current conditions (in an effort to decide if they were going to open the trail yet).

They saw me, my ice axe, crampons, mountain boots and trekking poles; asked where I was going, what route I was taking then told me to be safe and left me alone.

The permits exists solely to keep congestion down on the walk up to the summit by limiting the number of people on the trail.

The park staff may show some concern and may advise you against going up without the cables, however permits are not required when the cables are down and I don't believe that can actually stop you.

https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hdpermits.htm

Go forth, enjoy the view, don't become a statistic.

[EM2]

DOIT!!!

A group of us from work got a permit last year and hiked half dome from the valley floor in one day.
I am in modest shape, 220lbs @ 5'-11" and was 49yo.
I had severe leg cramps once I was on top, took 2hrs to recover enough to attempt the descent.
Make sure you understand why people get muscle cramps the take the appropriate precautions.

Anyway, it was a blast.
I have always had a sort of fear of heights, not some much the actual height as the unprotected edges from up high.
However, I was surprisingly calm going up and downright having fun coming down.
I found the descent to be easier because I went down facing the rock and allowed gravity to assist.

[asabino]

Half Dome cables down

How does Half Dome compare to Angels Flight in Zion National Park in Utah? I did the latter, so I hope I can do the former!

No comparison. Half Dome is much longer and a lot more strenuous. Half Dome is an all day hike. If you're in shape you can do in 8 to 10 hours depending on how many pictures you take, snack breaks, water breaks, rest breaks etc... I've climbed Half Dome about a dozen times and each time was a work out. Doable but tough if you are not in good shape. Starting from Happy Isles, round trip is approx 16 miles. I hiked Angels Flight and it was a fun hike. I think round trip was approx 5 miles. Both are beautiful and fun but Half Dome is definitely tougher! Be prepared and Do it!!

[Darto]

Laurence927 #3 got it covered !

Look at topo map, after passing Little Yosemite campgrounds and turning left towards half dome. See the spring on the map. That is your only water source for the last difficult part. The sign on the trail for the spring on the right is small easy to miss, no other chance to refill canteen.

[CVShooter]

Totally doable. Whether the cables are up or down, you'd be smart to bring some sort of harness, a 6-8' length of nylon webbing & a carabiner. That way, if you fall, you at least fall with the cable within reach. We did it as part of a high school class trip many years ago. Cables were down as it was mid April. No sweat. Clip, climb, stop, reposition on the next cable, repeat.

I've heard of some folks leaving the trailhead at night to climb at first light. Seems like a smart way to avoid the crowds as long as you're comfortable hiking at night. Not sure if permits are needed or if this was just a way to dodge the rangers.

Don't let people scare you off the trip. If you can run 5 miles, you can do Half Dome. There are people aged 7-70 years who do it every year. Keep your pace slow & steady. Baby steps up the hills & you'll be fine.

[CBR_rider]

. I'm actually planning on staying overnight and hike real early, like 1am early so I can finish before the "crowd" comes in and perhaps experience sunrise while up at the peak and take pictures as well. !

Where are you going to stay? Something to consider might be camping at Little Yosemite Valley: this puts you much close to Half Dome and would allow you to hit the top prior to first light without having to leave anywhere near 1am.

I have hiked Half Dome twice (both times from Happy Isles and then some for one of them); each time I started bout 0500 IIRC and was on top of Half Dome by 1130 (I don't remember the exact time for that either; I just know it was well before noon). Once was with permits, once without. As long as you are climbing by 11 you will avoid most of the crowds on the cables on your way up. Your way down may be busier but I never really cared... Since the cables won't be up in your case I would assume that your group would be one of a handful, at most, to climb Half Dome on your chosen day anyway. Just read up like it seems you are, prepare physically, bring the right gear, and STAY OFF THE TOP if it looks like any chance of an electrical storm.