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My experience with Half Dome:
It's a miserable hike. I remember catching my breath on the endless switchbacks as 75+ seniors sprinted by me.
I hiked it twice. The first time, I thought we were almost there when we hit Vernal Falls - boy was I wrong. Shortly before the cables, it started to sprinkle and ocasional thunder were in the distance. There's a big sign at the bottom that warns you to not go up the cables if there are thunder clouds in the area. But, there were hundreds of people doing it. I decided to go up as the girls I was with declined. About 200 feet up, a large lightning bolt hit a nearby mountain across the valley. Instantly, all the people came running down.
I was truely dissapointed that we hiked all that way but couldn't do the last 900 feet.
The next time, which was a few months later, I was more prepared. I knew it would be a very long hike (takes all day). But I was happy to make it up the cables. It was very crowded and I hung on to the cables from the outside (not between the two cables). I was very careful because that is one steep hill. The view from the top was spectacular but I was not able to get any closer than 4' from the edge. There were kids sitting on the edge eating lunch and I looked like a big baby crawling on my knees to get close to the edge - a 5000 ft fall was not on my adgenda.
Although I still think it is a miserable punnishing hike, I reccomend it to all. You really feel good after doing it. It's really an accomplishment.
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