I am: 7600 feet high above sea level
Posted by Jeku | Posted in half dome , hiking , Nikon D40 , yosemite national park | Posted on 7/11/2009 06:01:00 PM
I conquered Half Dome! 8.2 miles up and 8.2 miles down at Yosemite National Park. Photos here on Flickr: http://tiny.cc/57TrT
Here are the things I brought:
- Camelbak (3 Liters)
- 2 MREs
- Granola bars
- Wool socks (2)
- hiking boots
- long pants
- cotton shirt (should have brought polyester)
- whistle
- reflector belt
- hat
- knife
- lots and lots of snacks
- sunglasses
- headlamp (just in case it got dark)
- sunscreen
- Nikon D40 w/18-200mm f/3.5-3.6
- iPhone 3GS
Things I should have brought
- Garlic/mosquito repellant (bugs were relentless)
- Poncho (thunderstormed on us)
- Water filter (ran out of water while up there. DON'T DRINK STAGNANT WATER)
- Polyester shirt
We started out at 7pm at Trail head. We decided to take the Horse Trail up. This trail is usually the longer trail, but it was very scenic. It was also the most smelliest though with all the horse feces around. This route let us to Nevada falls. Gorgeous white water falls. We even saw a rainbow!
The trails were clearly marked with signs, wooden branches, and massive stair-master steps. The toughest part going up were the last 4 miles. Massive incline through the forest with tailbacks followed by stair-master 1000 aka sub-dome to the base of Half Dome.
Half Dome is set up with massive cables to make a trail. These cables were set up by the Sierra Club in 1919. The stakes are hammered into the solid rock and wooden planks are set as foot holders. It is about a 50 degree incline going up.
The route to go up took about 30 mins due to people slowing up pace. They were taking up their sweet time because of their fear. There were adults were clearly dealing with issues while clinging onto their lives on the cables. It look a LOT of encouragement and anger from the people backed up to get these people going.
The view at the top was awesome! While at the top I sat and just thought about all that God had made. Everything we saw at 7600 feet above sea level was created by Him. What an awesome God!
We took the Mist Trail back down to Yosemite Valley. This was stair-master 9000! It was beautiful path climbing down the side of one of the waterfalls. And it was very wet. We also got wet when we were about half way back to the valley. First we heard thunder, then saw dark clouds, then finally the rain. Soon after that lighting. Thank God it was only for about 30 mins.
The total trip 8.2 miles going up took 5.5 hours via the Horse Trail. It took 3 hours back down via the Mist Trail. We got back at 7pm tired, sweaty, hungry, and sore.
It was an amazing workout and experience. I'm glad I got to go up with Ryan and Gunawan. I haven't seen them in a long time. Being on a 16 mile hike really allows people to catch up with each other. I regret that now that I'm living in North Carolina that I finally take the opportunity to go to Half Dome in California, California who has been my home for the past 19 years.
What's next? I hear the highest point of the Appalachian mountains is in North Carolina, about 6000 feet. Time to follow in the footsteps of our early American explorers.
- hat
- knife
- lots and lots of snacks
- sunglasses
- headlamp (just in case it got dark)
- sunscreen
- Nikon D40 w/18-200mm f/3.5-3.6
- iPhone 3GS
Things I should have brought
- Garlic/mosquito repellant (bugs were relentless)
- Poncho (thunderstormed on us)
- Water filter (ran out of water while up there. DON'T DRINK STAGNANT WATER)
- Polyester shirt
We started out at 7pm at Trail head. We decided to take the Horse Trail up. This trail is usually the longer trail, but it was very scenic. It was also the most smelliest though with all the horse feces around. This route let us to Nevada falls. Gorgeous white water falls. We even saw a rainbow!
The trails were clearly marked with signs, wooden branches, and massive stair-master steps. The toughest part going up were the last 4 miles. Massive incline through the forest with tailbacks followed by stair-master 1000 aka sub-dome to the base of Half Dome.
Half Dome is set up with massive cables to make a trail. These cables were set up by the Sierra Club in 1919. The stakes are hammered into the solid rock and wooden planks are set as foot holders. It is about a 50 degree incline going up.
The route to go up took about 30 mins due to people slowing up pace. They were taking up their sweet time because of their fear. There were adults were clearly dealing with issues while clinging onto their lives on the cables. It look a LOT of encouragement and anger from the people backed up to get these people going.
The view at the top was awesome! While at the top I sat and just thought about all that God had made. Everything we saw at 7600 feet above sea level was created by Him. What an awesome God!
We took the Mist Trail back down to Yosemite Valley. This was stair-master 9000! It was beautiful path climbing down the side of one of the waterfalls. And it was very wet. We also got wet when we were about half way back to the valley. First we heard thunder, then saw dark clouds, then finally the rain. Soon after that lighting. Thank God it was only for about 30 mins.
The total trip 8.2 miles going up took 5.5 hours via the Horse Trail. It took 3 hours back down via the Mist Trail. We got back at 7pm tired, sweaty, hungry, and sore.
It was an amazing workout and experience. I'm glad I got to go up with Ryan and Gunawan. I haven't seen them in a long time. Being on a 16 mile hike really allows people to catch up with each other. I regret that now that I'm living in North Carolina that I finally take the opportunity to go to Half Dome in California, California who has been my home for the past 19 years.
What's next? I hear the highest point of the Appalachian mountains is in North Carolina, about 6000 feet. Time to follow in the footsteps of our early American explorers.
heheheheh hohohohohoh hehehehehehehohohohohoh