Preparations for Half Dome

The big hike is coming up quickly now so I have started the planning. (I'm a project manager to my core, I can't help it!).

The hike is ~16 miles and 4700 feet in elevation change. There are wonderful waterfalls and superb spectacles on the way. But it's a popular hike. There will also be soul-destroying steps and crazy crowds. Am I ready?

Walking Together - Meeting Up

Realistically it's not going to be easy for all 7 of us to walk together for the whole day. There are varying degrees of fitness among us and seven is just too big a number. Instead of trying to keep together, I have suggested we agree to meet up the top for lunch at 11:30am / noon. Knowing my own limitations, I expect it to take me upwards of 6 hours to get there.

It's worth knowing that avoiding the really big crowds at the cables is totally worth it. The cables are the last step before you get to the top. Without getting stuck in traffic, we should expect it to take 15 minutes to get up them. If there are a lot of people there it can take more than 45 minutes. And you can't rest on the way up, so that's 45 minutes of intense concentration. Hence my intention to try to get there before the crowds. Apparently the crowds start getting bad at 11am.

Itinerary

Friday

- Drive to Yosemite. We'll stop along the way somewhere for dinner. We are staying in a 5-bed tent cabin in Curry Village.

Saturday

- Get up early. The trail head starts from Curry Village. Hike to Half Dome and back.

- We'll probably get back some time around 6pm. There are showers in Curry Village but there will be lines for these so it might take a while.

- Get dinner together in Curry Village, there are a couple of options.

- Pass Out.

Sunday

- Drive home.

Lists

Just in case anyone would find it helpful, here's an abbreviated list of the preparations I'm making. (I'll add to this as I think of more stuff.)

To Wear

To Hike

- Comfortable, supportive, broken in hiking boots
- 2 pairs of Hiking socks (spare pair to change into for the descent)
- Light pants
- Sports tshirt
- Sun glasses
- Hat

- Sunscreen
- Insect repellant
- Light wind breaker

- Fingerless gloves to wear when climbing the cables

After the hike

- Shower flipflops (the water is hot but the showers serve a lot of dusty hikers)

To Bring

1. Hydration

I have a 3 liter camel-back but I don't expect that to be enough water to last me all 12 hours. It's going to be HOT, so it's really important to stay hydrated. I'll also have a ceramic filter to use with the natural water sources we encounter on the trip.

2. Food

I really like sports gels for giving an immediate energy boost and intend to bring lots of these.

May also bring cookies, protein bars, gels, bananas, beef jerky or some other snacks.

We'll eat lunch on the top of Half Dome.

3. First Aid

- I have a general first aid kit with scissors, bandaids, advil and tylenol tablets, antiseptic wipes and cream, bandages etc.

- I also have a blister kit with mole skin.

4. Accessories

- Trekking Poles.

- Headlamp.

- Book with description of hike.

- Walkie Talkies.

- Camera.

- Hand Sanitizer.

- Tissues.