62-year-old man climbs to top of Half Dome

Yup. It’s me. I went to the top today. It was a magnificent day in Yosemite. This is the 11th time I’ve done this hike, and it was as thrilling as always.

For those of you who haven’t done this hike (i.e., everyone except my family), the hike is roughly 16 miles round trip from the trailhead, plus another 1 mile each way to the parking lot, making 18 miles. But the main figure of merit is that it is 4800 ft vertical rise from the valley floor. Thus it is even more demanding than, say, the hike to the top of Mt. Timpanogos. But it is gorgeous scenery all the way, with two breaktaking waterfalls. And the final ascent up the dome, holding on to the cables for dear life, is an experience you’ll never forget.

Here are some photos:

1. Nevada Falls, one of several great waterfalls along the trail: Nevada Falls
2. Typical lovely scene along the trail: Trail scene
3. First view of the “thumb” — the “shoulder” and the final ascent up the dome: Thumb
4. Scary view up the “shoulder”: Shoulder
5. First view of the final ascent and the infamous cables. Some hikers, seeing this scene, turn around and go back, even though they are 90% to the top: Final ascent
6. Close-up of the cables: Cables
7. DHB smiling on top: DHB on top