Yosemite Resources

yosemite_packing_list.pdf (Click to download)
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How To Successfully Hike Half Dome
By Greg Weisman, President of Bayside Adventure Sports, Inc.
See the"Hiking Half Dome" video at the NPS website - http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hdvideo.htm 

WARNING – This hike can be hazardous to your health.The Half Dome hike is a very, very, difficult hike.  It covers about 15 miles in one day with a 4,800' elevation gain to an altitude of 8,886’ topped off by a 200 yard hike/climb up the side of Half Dome, assisted only by steel cables working as railings for stability.  There are no safety systems beyond your own ability to hold on and hike up.  It has taken some as long as 16 hours.  If you are not regularly exercising, if you can't walk uphill for 7 hours, if you have a heart condition, if you have bad knees, please consult your physician before attempting this hike or simply wait until next year when you have time to train properly.  Scared?  A little fear is a good thing, but take heart, we have had hundreds hike it and many 7-10 year olds as well as grandparents with grandchildren hike the Dome!

ASK FOR HELPIf at any time during the hike, ask for help.  Use a radio tuned to Channel 18 sub-channel 2 and call one of the leaders.

TELL US YOU ARE HIKING, TELL US WHEN YOU RETURN We need to know who is hiking Half Dome so please tell the trip leader.  When you get back please let us know you made it back.  We will call the rangers if we believe people didn’t make it back before 9pm.

DIRECTIONS & ROUTE OPTIONS Carry a map.  The trail is very well marked and clear – it’s hard to miss it!  But there are two options in the first section.  Remember, if in doubt, keep taking the LEFT option as you are hiking counter clockwise on the way up.  Turn Right at all options on the way down.

• The Mist Trail is much shorter, more beautiful, but wet and steep – but well worth it!  You take this trail by taking the left fork that follows the river.  You will get to this spot about a half hour into the hike.
• The John Muir Trail is designed for horses so it is wide, smooth, and not as steep but much longer.  Use this trail on the way down if your knees are so sore you don’t think you can safely handle the tall, steep steps on the Mist Trail on the way down. 

SCHEDULE  Start as early as you can, shoot for 5am.   No one ever said they wished they had left later in the morning.  The average person will take about 12 hours to do this hike.  Now that there is a limit on how many permits are available to go up Half Dome, the crowds are not as much of an issue, yet it is still more comfortable to go up the cables with fewer people.  Take your time at the top – take photos, encourage others, eat & drink, take a nap, and meet others.  Just be careful while up there.  Please start down from the top by 2:30pm at the absolute latest as it is a long way down and you don’t want to be walking in the dark.

PERMITS Please register via the 2 day Lottery to attempt to get permits if you don’t already have them.  If we as a group do not get enough permits, we will get them on Hike Day.  Many who do get permits don’t have people filling all their spots.  We will ask people along the trail if they have extra room on their permits and if they do, we will join them when they catch up to us at Quarter Dome, where the National Park Ranger will be checking for permits.

CLOTHING – Layering is the secret!  Stay away from cotton if possible.

• Do not wear cotton!  When it gets damp, it stays damp.  Go for synthetic clothing and wool or wool blend socks.  This goes for underwear as well.  Perspiration will evaporate out of synthetics very quickly – as well as it allows you to jump in the river and dry quickly after doing so.
• If the forecast is clear for a warm day, then you will need very little in the way of clothing as the uphill hike keeps the body temperature up.  Though you will start early in the morning and it will be cool, as soon as you begin going uphill, you will warm up.  Hike in shorts or very lightweight long pants (zip-offs are the best!).  Wearing a thin long sleeve shirt with a windbreaker to help when going through the Mist Trail to keep from getting soaked will be helpful. 
• If the forecast is for cooler temperatures or a possibility of rain – bring along a lightweight rain shell, hat, and synthetic clothing that will keep you warm even if they get wet.  If there is any kind of storm activity when you get near the end of the trail, DO NOT PROCEED.  It is very dangerous to go up on exposed rock during a storm.
• Bring an extra pair of socks (see below)

FOOT CARE – Take care of your feet!  You need them to get back down!
If you get any kind of soreness stop and take care of your feet right away!  Some suggestions:

1. Wear wool or a wool/synthetic blend sock.  Try these socks on with your shoes before the trip to make sure they are not too thick and will make your shoes fit too tight.
2. Change your socks during the hike.  Simply a different pair may help.
3. Put some duct tape or moleskin on any spot that is rubbing.  Why duct tape?  It allows your sock to slide, it doesn’t take a lot of space in your shoe, and it stays on all day.
4. Try loosening or tightening your shoelaces.
5. When beginning to descend from the top, tighten your shoelaces so that your toes do not slip and push against the ends of your shoes.  This will keep you from losing your toenails.
6. If nothing else is helping – try trading shoes with someone else!  If someone else has the same size shoes, ask if you can swap as this will make a big difference!

FOOD/SNACKS/DRINKS

• Take and eat as much as you want!  Focus on high carbohydrate foods for energy.
• Drink water all day long!  Each person needs to be carrying plenty for the day.  Adults should have space for 100oz, kids at least 60oz.  You don’t have to start with all water containers completely filled as there is water along the trail until you reach Little Yosemite Valley (see note on map) and water is heavy!  Start with about a liter.  At that point, fill everything you have for carrying water to the top and back down until you get back to the river.  There is a spring along the trail farther up but it is often hard to get water out of it.  Do not worry about filtering the water in Yosemite (we will cover that separately next). 
• REPLENISH YOUR ELECTROLYTES - Bring along some Gatorade mix or something to replenish the electrolytes in your system.  This is great to have at the top!

THE CABLES

• When you see the cables for the first time, it will freak you out.  But don’t worry, you will simply walk up the side of the Dome like thousand of others!  If you have children with you, put them in front of you for the way up, and behind you for the way down (above you).  When descending, many find it less fearful to walk backwards.
• Safety-Harnesses Available – we have safety harnesses you may borrow if you are nervous or if you have a child you would like to use it for.  Simply put around the person’s waist then use the carabineer to attach to the cable as you go up or down.
• Use common sense on the Cables.  Use both hands, don’t goof around, don’t pass others, etc.  Many people are very nervous on the cables – encourage them and help someone out!

GEAR – WHAT YOU SHOULD TAKE WITH YOU (not exhaustive but suggested)

• Day Pack to hold stuff.  Do not plan to carry items in your hands all day long.
• Your Bayside Tag – put it somewhere visible so we can find each other.
• Ability to carry 100oz of Water/adult and 60oz per child (see above).  A bladder for water and a bottle for mixing Gatorade or Electrolyte Drink is suggested.
• Comfortable shoes for hiking.  You don’t need big boots, just comfortable shoes with great traction on the granite rock.  Many wear trail running shoes.
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Sun Glasses
• Extra socks
• First Aid supplies including:  Duct Tape, band-aids, anti-biotic ointment, ace bandage if you have one, Ibuprofen, etc.
• Gatorade mix or electrolyte tablets for adding to water later in the day
• Windbreaker for the morning
• Zip-off pants, lightweight non-cotton pants or Shorts to hike in (unless the weather forecast is for cooler weather)
• Non-cotton shirt or blouse to hike in (so it dries easily)
• Lightweight synthetic longsleeve shirt for warmth in the morning
• Walkie-Talkies if desired
• Hiking or trekking Poles (very helpful!)
• Map
• Food & Snacks
• Whistles for kids to wear for safety
• Small headlamp flashlight if starting in the dark
• Cable-harness if you want to borrow one
• Charge up your phone/camera and put on “Airplane Mode” to conserve batteries

​HIKING WITH KIDS

• MAKE IT FUN!  This is absolutely the most important point.  Keep the hike fun, stop when necessary – it’s more important that they have a fun day and enjoy hiking than that they make it to the desired goal – to the top or to a waterfall.
• Let them hike with a friend.  They will complain less if they are hiking with someone outside of the family.
• Bring handheld 2-way portable radios and give one to each child and parents carry them as well.  Then let the kids hike out in front and feel like explorers – guiding the parents.  Be sure to stay off the operational channel used by the leaders (18:2) so that leaders can know when someone really needs help.
• Surprise them with all their favorite snacks/candy/treats.  Don’t worry – they will burn it all off.  Keep most of the snacks with you and surprise them along the trail when they start getting tired or discouraged.
• Have each one carry a small “camelback” backpack with drink and snacks.
• Here’s one I heard from a dad– he bribed his kids with a $50 reward if they made it, and it worked!

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