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Gary Robertshaw | profile | all galleries >> The Yosemite Collection >> Half Dome! Our trek to the top. tree view | thumbnails | slideshow | map

Snowy winter morning in Yosemite Valley | Autumn spectacular in Yosemite Valley | Rivers Alive! | October 2007 in Yosemite Valley | Yosemite Winter | Half Dome! Our trek to the top. | Yosemite's Panorama Trail | An Early Yosemite Summer | Yosemite Valley Autumn | Summer in Yosemite Valley | April in Yosemite Valley | Yosemite Valley; Another April Visit | Yosemite Early Spring Favorites | Yosemite Valley Spring - 2005 | Visit to Mariposa Grove | Old Big Oak Flat Road | New Additions | Upper Yosemite Falls Trail | Finding Yosemite's Sierra Point

Half Dome! Our trek to the top.

Our May 31, 2006 trek from Yosemite Valley to the top of Half Dome.
My 3 sons (Aaron, Cory, Casey) and I hiked from Yosemite Valley's Upper Pines campground
(4000 feet elevation) to Half Dome's 8836-foot summit, and back in a day.
We went up via the mist trail, down via the John Muir trail,
sacrificing our toes to favor our knees...8^)
This hike is about 17 miles, though my pedometer showed 21 miles at the end of the day.
Absoulutely a fantastic trip; long and strenuous, but what a reward!
That rock?  Sure, no problem...
That rock? Sure, no problem...
Looks a little bigger from here...
Looks a little bigger from here...
Decisions...
Decisions...
Up the mist trail
Up the mist trail
Vernal Fall was FULL
Vernal Fall was FULL
Steps to Vernal Fall
Steps to Vernal Fall
Merced River above Vernal Fall
Merced River above Vernal Fall
Rainbow on mist trail to Nevada Fall
Rainbow on mist trail to Nevada Fall
To Nevada Fall
To Nevada Fall
Are you sure this is the trail?
Are you sure this is the trail?
Break time
Break time
The back of Half Dome
The back of Half Dome
Deer having breakfast
Deer having breakfast
2 miles!  Hey, were 3/4ths there!
2 miles! Hey, were 3/4ths there!
Tree
Tree
A different profile
A different profile
What a view
What a view
Up the granite steps on sub dome
Up the granite steps on sub dome
The famous Half Dome cables
The famous Half Dome cables
Looks a little flaky...
Looks a little flaky...
Up we go!
Up we go!
The top
The top
We made it!!
We made it!!
What's the big deal?
What's the big deal?
Yosemite Valley below
Yosemite Valley below
Casey has to look over the side
Casey has to look over the side
And now time for lunch...
And now time for lunch...
Hey look, a window...
Hey look, a window...
Sheer wall
Sheer wall
Aaron in the King's Chair
Aaron in the King's Chair
Casey in the King's Chair
Casey in the King's Chair
A snowball fight after lunch
A snowball fight after lunch
Advice at the top
Advice at the top
Putting off the inevitable
Putting off the inevitable
Time to go
Time to go
Down those infernal steps
Down those infernal steps
Near Little Yosemite trail intersection
Near Little Yosemite trail intersection
Aaaahhhh....  Yikes!
Aaaahhhh.... Yikes!
To the Nevada Falls Bridge
To the Nevada Falls Bridge
Lots of small creeks along the trail
Lots of small creeks along the trail
Top o' the falls
Top o' the falls
Cool and wet return on the John Muir Trail
Cool and wet return on the John Muir Trail
Nevada Falls and Liberty Dome.
Nevada Falls and Liberty Dome.