At last, Half Dome is in sight! To the top!

Half Dome, CA

In June 1999, I went with my friend David Hung to Yosemite to hike Half Dome. We drove there in my 1969 MGB and nearly froze to death, but not once did Dave complain. Tough guy.

We met some of his friends there and camped overnight at Wawona in sleeping bags out in the open. Then, we hiked to the top and back, including ascending the final stretch which entailed clinging onto steel cables to pull ourselves up. Fortunately there were leather gloves available in this area just for this purpose. At the top of the rock, we had lunch and waited for the others to come up.

The whole hike was about 16 or 17 miles and I seem to recall it taking 9 hours. Or maybe it was 12; I forget. In any case, it was great to hike up an icon of one of the seven natural wonders of the United States.

Late to bed, early to rise... camping in Wawona.
Late to bed, early to rise... camping in Wawona.
Here comes those clouds!
Here comes those clouds!
At last, Half Dome is in sight! To the top!
At last, Half Dome is in sight! To the top!
Diving Board, Half Dome, Yosemite
The Diving Board at Half Dome in Yosemite.
Woohoo! The summit long at last!
Woohoo! The summit long at last!
The start of a happy hike from Happy Isles!
The start of a happy hike from Happy Isles!
A pretty rainbow. No, this pic was not digitally altered in any way! The manager of Ritz camera liked it so much that he is making a poster out of this pic for himself (wow!)
A pretty rainbow. No, this pic was not digitally altered in any way! The manager of Ritz camera liked it so much that he is making a poster out of this pic for himself (wow!)
 Another pretty rainbow overshadowed by the towering cliffs of Yosemite.
Another pretty rainbow overshadowed by the towering cliffs of Yosemite.
That's Scott, Dave, and I after taking an hour's nap at the top of Half Dome! Mike was up there too, somewhere...
That's Scott, Dave, and I after taking an hour's nap at the top of Half Dome! Mike was up there too, somewhere...
This was taken from the lip right below the top of Half Dome and before we were entirely engulfed by clouds.
This was taken from the lip right below the top of Half Dome and before we were entirely engulfed by clouds.
One of the many waterfalls we saw on the way to the top. I left the shutter open for a little while for this one...
One of the many waterfalls we saw on the way to the top. I left the shutter open for a little while for this one...