Half Dome by Moonlight

Last weekend, Alice, Erik Anderson, and I joined Jon Daniel's group for a night hike up Half Dome to watch the sunrise over Yosemite. We left Friday after work. Here's the play-by-play:

• 7:00 pm - Started packing.
• 7:45 pm - Left home.
• 8:00 pm - Got Erik. Left Stanford campus.
• 8:07 pm - Filled up at Arco. Flex nozzle acted like a spring and shot the pump out of my car, splashing my foot and flip flop with gas. I hate Arco.
• 10:10 pm - Potty break at Wendy's.
• 11:26 pm - Arrived at Yosemite National Park.
• 12:31 am - Arrived at parking lot in the valley.
• 12:38 am - Removed excess snacks from car. Stashed them in a bear-proof bin. Put on backpacks. Started hiking.
• 12:55 am - Reached trailhead.
• 2:02 am - Reached top of Vernal Falls. Misty trail wasn't misty.
• 2:23 am - Followed a rock face off course. Lost 15 min wandering around trails made by other lost souls.
• 2:51 am - Caught up with Dave Haynie and others we knew.
• 3:30 am - Reached meadow (half-way point).
• 3:58 am - Hiked with a professional kickboxer from Cambodia. Passed others -- some we knew, some we didn't know, and some we didn't know we knew (too dark).
• 4:43 am - First light on the east horizon.
• 4:49 am - Reached the 400 rock steps that lead to the cables.
• 5:12 am - Started climbing the dome (between the cables).
• 5:19 am - Lost patience with climbers ahead. Passed them on the left side.
• 5:21 am - Summited the dome!
• 5:26 am - Watched the red moon set in the west.
• 5:48 am - Watched the sun emerge from behind the mountains.
• 6:08 am - Enjoyed Alice's yummy spicy hot cocoa. Mmm...
• 6:13 am - Explored dome. Did handstand on overhang.
• 6:40 am - Group photo.
• 6:53 am - Left the dome.
• 6:58 am - Watched a stray bottle slide over the cliff face.
• 8:52 am - Went rock-hopping beneath the upper falls.
• 9:49 am - Spotted a bear cub.
• 10:05 am - Swam in icy stream water. Backflipped off rocks.
• 11:53 am - Lunch at the only diner in Groveland.
• 1:43 pm - Surrendered the wheel back to Alice after dozing and veering off the road one too many times.
• 1:44 pm - Out cold.
• 4:46 pm - Woke up somewhere east of the bay.
• 5:39 pm - Home sweet home!

Here are a handful of photos, some taken by Alice and some by Lee Merrick.

Cables leading to the top

Sunrise from Half Dome

Sunrise, looking south from Half Dome
(Morning light is so dramatic. I love it!)

Breakfast. Erik brought bear claws!

Group shot

Many folks brought space blankets for protection from the wind.

One more great view from the top

The cables are scarier on the way down. You have to back down.

Nevada Falls

Vernal Falls

Vernal Falls, up close and personal