VIEWS FROM THE TOP OF HALF DOME

This section contains photos taken in July from the top of Half Dome.  None of these pictures have been cropped, to do so would reduce the impact of the dramatic panoramas.  Please be patient, all of these pictures will take from 15 to 30 seconds to load over a 28.8 modem.

Hiking to the top of Half Dome is usually done between late May and early October.  Depending on snow and other weather factors, the conditions that affect raising and lowering the cables will vary from year to year.  Please make sure you check with the National Park Service before making any attempt to go up Half Dome.  It's a beautiful view from the top, but the last 600 vertical feet up the steel cables are not for anyone who's the least bit afraid of heights.  The view from the shoulder at the start of the cables is quite spectacular and will be satisfying enough for most people.  The hike to Half Dome can be done in a very long day from Yosemite Valley (approximately 10 to 12 hours roundtrip on average), or stretched into a leisurely 3 day journey with overnights at the backpacker's campground in Little Yosemite Valley.  Thunderstorms can occur any time of year and lightning has struck Half Dome during every month, so do not go past the start of the cables if you see any clouds near you or on the horizon.