Essential Tips to Hike Half Dome
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Although I hesitate to use the phrase “bucket list” there are definitely some things in life I want to do. One of them is to hike Half Dome in Yosemite National Park!
What’s on your bucket list?
From Fresno, it is only 45 minutes to the park gates! In fact one of the first dates I went on with Dan was a drive thru Yosemite National Park. I’d lived in California for 10 years, never once visiting Yosemite. Once we drove thru Tunnel View, I was hooked! We set a goal to hike Half Dome!
This is the view when you exit the tunnel showcasing the valley. Isn’t it amazing? You can see Half Dome in the distance.
Permits are required for the hike and the window to apply is only open for one month a year.
One year I completely forgot to apply, the next year we were not selected – but this year we were!
Dan hiking Half Dome – here he’s getting ready to head up the cables behind him!
In the picture above see the line that looks likes ants climbing the mountain? Those are not ants, but people using cables that assist in the final ascent to the summit. Dan has hiked Half Dome and to the top of Mount Whitney!
Dan knows his stuff! He is going to make sure we are well trained!
Me…. I will make sure we have the right nutrition, to fuel our bodies. Hey… it’s what I do! 🙂
With a great view like this one on top of Goat Mountain, we had to have a picnic!
So we’ve begun hiking in preparation and of course I pack a picnic lunch!
Bagels make a great sandwich for a hike (they are sturdy and don’t get squished). These sandwiches are filled with fresh veggies and thick slices of cheese. I also swung by Vons and grabbed some fresh fruit and Odwalla 100% fruit juice, they carry a ton of different varieties!
I found Odwalla on the end cap of aisle 15 in the specialty beverage aisle and save on fresh cut fruit!
Whether you’re looking for a smoothie, protein drink or juice this GMO free product offers great nutrition and is a yummy blend of delicious fruit! A perfect grab-n-go beverage!
As a bonus our training preparations will fill our summer with fun hikes and great picnics with terrific nutrition! We will enjoy the most amazing scenery the Sierras have to offer.
Hiking Angels Falls – Bass Lake, CA
Essential Tips to Hike Half Dome
- Apply for a permit – Permits are required to hike Half Dome! Only 300 hikers are permitted per day. There is a pre-season lottery March 1-31st. You can apply right online, submitting your preference of days. Check back to see if you have been accepted. For more information click here.
- Training – It’s best to begin your training with a minimum of three months. Hiking Half Dome is exhilarating but also grueling. It is a 14-16 mile hike and will take 10-12 hours. Start with short 4-5 mile hikes gradually progressing in length and altitudes. The hike at Half Dome rises 5000 feet from Yosemite Valley floor (8600 feet above sea level).
- Day of the hike dress for the weather in layers – you’ll start the hike early in the morning. By the time you get to the top of Half Dome the weather can increase/decrease several degrees.
- Bring plenty of water – a minimum of one gallon per person is recommend or if you carry less bring a water filter. We are going to do both.
- Good footwear – for this hike you’ll need hiking boots or hiking shoes. Begin breaking them in early. Wear them at every opportunity; around the house, a walk around the neighborhood. Comfortable? Start wearing them on your hikes! Investing in quality socks that wick the water away from your feet will (hopefully) save you from blisters.
- Essential Equipment – Light jacket, a sunhat, sunscreen, extra socks, flashlight with fresh batteries, map, water filter, first aide kit and cell phone (cell phone service may be available in different areas along the trail). Important – keep your pack as light as possible.
- Nutrition – you’ll be expelling a lot of energy during this 12 hour hike. On your practice hikes learn what food best fuels your body!
Many thanks to my Dad for his mad Photoshop skills! 🙂
Lois & Clark Expedition
Hungry for more adventure? Be sure to read the Lois and Clark Expedition where you’ll see more of my Dad’s Photoshop handiwork or Exploring the Eastern Sierras to see a real live (dead?) ghost town!
What are your plans for summer? Are you checking anything off your bucket list?
What’s on your bucket list? If hiking Half Dome in Yosemite National Park is, here are some great tips to help you get there!
Looks like it will be a very hard but fun day. Great juice too. Good luck.
No doubt it will be challenging but Dan will help me be super prepared. It will be an exciting day!
Wow that sounds like one grueling but exciting hike! Good luck with all of your training and the hike itself this fall! Very cool that you’re going to to do! {client}
Thank you Cristi! We are so excited for this adventure!!
Now that we are in Arizona I have a goal of hiking Camelback mountain. I have attempted 2 times and only made it about 1/2 way. I can’t believe how out of shape I was. I am ready to start training as we want to hike into Havasu Falls next year. You need a permit for that as well which will give me the motivation to do the training. Once we do that we will start expanding our horizons and the Half Dome is on my list too!
How wonderful Jennifer, what great goals – I’m so proud of you! There are many amazing places to visit and hike in Arizona, just think of all the fun you’ll have training! I’ll keep you posted on our hike. I’m really using visualization because this is going to be a big deal to make it to the top! That and put down my fork to loose 10 pounds before the hike…. I think that’s as big a challenge for me. 🙂
What an amazing trip and I love the delicious snacks that you included. Exactly what you need before such a trek!
Thanks Julie! It’s fun trying to figure out what works and what we can carry for the hike. It’s going to be an amazing opportunity sitting on the top of Half Dome!!
I’m super excited for you! What an incredible trip that will be!! Always good to be prepared! I love that mango one for trips to the beach…. so refreshing!
It’s really going to be something Angela!! That mango Odwalla is my very favorite! So yummy!!
Wow! These photos are SO Beautiful! Thanks for sharing them, Debra! Amazing! And thanks for all the great tips, too: packing and planning a trip like this might be ver tricky and your tips are just so useful and informative! 🙂
I know people do it every day during the summer, but this is totally new to me – it’s going to be very exciting and fun Liza!!