For work this weekend, Gary and I guided a group of fathers and their sons on a three-day backpacking trip to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. It happens to be the most physically demanding itinerary I’ve operated all summer (funny that I chose this one to carry the extra weight of my camera). But after getting a glimpse of the shots below, you’ll see why. Yosemite is breathtaking.
Our trip mascot, the raven, with Half Dome in the background
Raven in dead pine with Cloud’s Rest in the left distance
Approaching Cloud’s Rest – Mount Clark in the left distance
These unique rustic iron signs mark the way on every trail in Yosemite
Ascending Cloud’s Rest
Ascent up Cloud’s Rest with Half Dome in the background
Exposure found on the way to Cloud’s Rest summit
Raven and Mount Clark on summit of Cloud’s Rest
Descent from Cloud’s Rest
Resting
Hiking to Half Dome the next day started at 5 am under a full moon
First light on Half Dome
Smoke in the distance from Dark Hole fire that’s been burning nearly a month now
The sons (Maxx, Matt and Josh) at base of the cables
Fathers and sons start the crazy steep climb to the top of Half Dome – can’t believe the NPS let’s visitors to the park do this (note that the dad’s are in the back…)
Looking back without letting go of the cables – slick granite smoothed from thousands of climbers is super sketchy
Summit! Joyy and the boyys – left to right: Maxx, Gregg, Josh, David, Brad, Gary (guide) and Matt
Where’s Joy? (Hint: look for stick white legs draped over 4,000 feet of air from the end of the King’s Chair)
Looking back up Tenaya Canyon
The Stats:
Hiked 5 to 12 miles each day for three days with elevation gains from 800 to 2,700 feet a day and elevation losses from 800 to 4,000 feet a day
Cloud’s Rest summit elevation – 9,900ish
Half Dome summit elevation – 8,800ish
So ends a perfect weekend. Till the next…
