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#21
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Yosemite National Park
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#22
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Yosemite National Park
In article , Bill Hilton
wrote: From: Go Fig Are you disagreeing with most people do it in more than 10+ hours ? 4 hours up, 3 hours down is making good time (or at least that's what it usually took me). So that is a "good time", but what is an average time... including lunch, stop at Vernal bridge, stop at top of Vernal, stop at top of Nevada and finally a little time at the top ? Maybe like 10 + hours ?? Most people are not in a race. "Most people" can't do it at all. Its "most people" who do the climb, you don't understand this ? I think you would find the profile of the average hiker has changed much since 20 years. jay Mon May 03, 2004 10 hours, 4K feet in elevation is a long day hike. 16-17 miles, 4,800 ft elevation does make for a long strenuous day hike, but it's easier than hiking to the river and back at the Grand Canyon since it's cooler and the uphill comes first at Half Dome. |
#23
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Yosemite National Park
In article , adjgiulio
wrote: "Go Fig" wrote in message ... Are you disagreeing with most people do it in more than 10+ hours Jay, may I ask you if you're talking of the NPS "estimated" time or of some other statistic. I have no idea what the NPS suggests, mine is based on a personal sample over many years. Cause last year I realized that often the NPS estimated time is much higher than the true time needed for an average-skilled hiker. Probably the NPS prefers to overestimate the correct time so that under-skilled hikers won't underestimate the difficulty of the hike. But this is just my personal opinion... I think it would be irresponsible for the NPS to give anything but a decidedly conservative estimate. Do you recall their estimate ? jay Mon May 03, 2004 Ciao, Giulio |
#24
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Yosemite National Park
"Go Fig" wrote in message
... In article , adjgiulio I think it would be irresponsible for the NPS to give anything but a decidedly conservative estimate. Do you recall their estimate ? It's 10 to 12 hours. http://www.nps.gov/yose/trip/valleyhikes.htm Ciao, Giulio |
#25
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Yosemite National Park
In article , adjgiulio
wrote: "Go Fig" wrote in message ... If you don't mind I'd like to ask you something more about these two hikes. Are them considered long/strenuous/day hikes or they should be faced as backcountry experiences? These are very tough day hikes, from either Glacier Point or Happy Isles it is about 10-12 hours return for most. From Happy Isles you can hike to Vernal and then you have the choice of the steep ascent to the top of Nevada Falls or the much longer horse trail. A little past the top of Nevada Falls there is a campground with bear boxes. I recommend to most, to make a overnight here and do it in two days. From Happy Isles it is 17 miles return. Bring some canvas gardening gloves for the cables on the final ascent. I hiked around Annapurna and went over a 19K foot pass, but had a much bigger sense of accomplishment in doing Half Dome... then Mt Whitney. Once you're on the Nevada Fall's top, how many miles there are still to get to the Half Dome? About 4. I hiket from Happy Isles to the Nevada Fall's top last year and it was not easy but "doable" without many problems. Next time I'll be in Yosemite I'd like to reach the Half Dome's top. I'm wondering if the last part with cables is just tough or if it could be frightening for people who fear heights (unfortunately I do suffer vertigo...kind of situation like the last part of the Angels Landing in Zion). The approach is quite daunting looking at it, and coming down sharing the path with those coming up, does add some challenges. It is very, very steep at points. Looking down is something everybody remembers, so those with vertigo it could be quite tough. But the real vertigo comes from this small outcrop of rocks on the top, yikes ! You may want to talk to your doctor about using something like Compazine to alleviate some of the symptoms. This is a G R E A T hike. jay Mon May 03, 2004 Can I ask you one more thing? Would you point out some "semi-hikers" rewarding hikes in the Tuolumne Meadows area? Just outside the park entrance is Saddlebag Lake, from there you can hike to the top of Mt Conness (12K + ft.) it is about 8 miles. What views !!! Thanks, I wrote your advice down. I won't forget it. Ciao, Giulio |
#26
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Yosemite National Park
Go Fig wrote in :
The approach is quite daunting looking at it, and coming down sharing the path with those coming up, does add some challenges. It is very, very steep at points. The steepest parts of the Half Dome cable section are 40 to 45 degrees. That's steep enough that you could not climb without some sort of hand support, but unless you have a heart attack or something, you are not going to fall off. If you're very uncomfortable, just keep both hands on one cable and slide yourself down. That way people going up can use the other cable. |
#27
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Yosemite National Park
Hi Giulio,
adjgiulio wrote: "Andreas Werner" wrote in message ... Hi Andreas, For hikers: - The one and only: Half Dome! Only for hikers with good endurance. - Yosemite Point: Also quite good, not as hard as Half dome. Use it as a warm-up for the harder hikes. If you don't mind I'd like to ask you something more about these two hikes. Are them considered long/strenuous/day hikes or they should be faced as backcountry experiences? Yosemite point is 4-6 hours depending on your shape. Half dome is 8-12 hous. Don't even think about Half Dome if you didn't do several 6-hour hikes in the last time. Yosemite point is without any shadow for long parts of its climb. Don't mix up hiking and sports: You might be an daily jogger or even a marathon runner. Still, you never use your feet continuously for 12 hours. I'm 6' and 230 pounds (mostly not muscles), but I do more than 20 day hikes a year with 5000 feets level difference. Frequently two on Saturday and Sunday. Still I have never been able to do long jump of ten feet;-) So these are different ball games and you only know your shape in hiking is by doing it. Serionsly: Do some hikes before the trip if you don't hike frequently anyway. If you don't hike at least some weekends every year, don't try Half Dome. For a real test, do cloverleaf hike: find a place where you can do a real long hike in a pattern around the trailhead where you can "chicken out" at multiple places. That's my way for setting up hikes together with people I don't know. If you're on top of Half Dome, there is no other way than walking back all the way. Technically (meaning difficult steps - dropoffs etc.) both are child's games, maybe except the top end of Half Dome, where you have to should be free from giddiness and where you need power both in legs and arms. Once you're on the Nevada Fall's top, how many miles there are still to get to the Half Dome? Others already answered you: it's about half the way. On the other hand, when you are on top of Nevada Falls, you can recover on that nearly flat part to Little Yosemite Valley (hint: use the facilities there - last one on the way), and the next 1/3 of the level gain is done in the forest. So in summer, the climb to Nevada Falls is more strenuous than the rest. I can't cope well with heat, so maybe others think different. The last part with the ropes is really best seen in the report http://www.rahul.net/kenton/fun/yosemite/ But: when you see the picture of the top part, it looks harder than it really is. On my first tour, I didn't dare to do the last part. It was my second year of hiking at all, and I was really out of power, maybe I was wrong, maybe it was better that way. I've done it three times since then. Two hints he Usually there some old gloves ar the start of the rope part. Pick out some, you need them more on the way down than uphill. AND: really have good hiking boots on your feet. Can I ask you one more thing? Would you point out some "semi-hikers" rewarding hikes in the Tuolumne Meadows area? Sorry I can't. Smallest thing I ever did myself in Yosemite was Yosemite Point. If you travel more than 5000 miles for a hiking vacation, you don't go for the easy loops. And I never recommend hikes I haven't gone myself before. I mentioned all small walks I know in my earlier posting (That's the thing to do on the day after a long hike). Andreas |
#28
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Yosemite National Park
Hi Ken,
Ken wrote: Go Fig wrote in : These are very tough day hikes, from either Glacier Point or Happy Isles it is about 10-12 hours return for most. From Happy Isles you can hike to Vernal and then you have the choice of the steep ascent to the top of Nevada Falls or the much longer horse trail. I'm a middle aged recreational "athlete". I exercise 6-8 hours a week non- competitely. I've hiked from Happy Isles to Half Dome and back in 8 hours (including rest and photo and lunch stops) and I am not the fastest person on the trail. If you camp half way up the trail, you need to haul camping gear, which slows down your pace a lot. You also need a backcountry camping permit, which isn't easy to get. If you exercise 6-8 hours a week you are way ahead of average training. Most people really need 10+ hours for it. I usually need about 8-9 hours with a long break on the top and lots of photo stops in between. Nevertheless, one should plan for 10+ hours and be happy when returning earlier. NEVER ever start after 8 a.m for the Half Dome hike. !!!! And the usual disclaimer: Hiking Boots, Water, Sunscreen, Hat, Raincoat !!!! (I mention it as often as possible, I've even seen idiots with sandals on top of Half Dome. Guess they probably came back somehow, but one rainfall and they won't ... Andreas |
#29
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Yosemite National Park
"Andreas Werner" wrote in message
... Hi Andreas, I'd like to start thanking all you guys who gave me some very useful information in this thread. Yosemite point is 4-6 hours depending on your shape. Half dome is 8-12 hous. Don't even think about Half Dome if you didn't do several 6-hour hikes in the last time. Yosemite point is without any shadow for long parts of its climb. Don't mix up hiking and sports: You might be an daily jogger or even a marathon runner. Still, you never use your feet continuously for 12 hours. I'm 6' and 230 pounds (mostly not muscles), but I do more than 20 day hikes a year with 5000 feets level difference. Frequently two on Saturday and Sunday. Still I have never been able to do long jump of ten feet;-) So these are different ball games and you only know your shape in hiking is by doing it. Serionsly: Do some hikes before the trip if you don't hike frequently anyway. If you don't hike at least some weekends every year, don't try Half Dome. For a real test, do cloverleaf hike: find a place where you can do a real long hike in a pattern around the trailhead where you can "chicken out" at multiple places. That's my way for setting up hikes together with people I don't know. If you're on top of Half Dome, there is no other way than walking back all the way. You're right. A enjoyable hikes is, before all, a safe hike. If you live all the year in a city it's quite not easy to measure your hiking skills untill you are on a trail. There is no way to say "...I play 2 hours tennis so I'll be able to hike about..." and that's a big problem for a lot of people. Now I live in Seattle and here around there is plenty of chances to hike all the year. I've just been to the Olympic NP were I had some very nice hikes. Ever heard about the Point of the Arches? Well, anyway, I'll surely have chances to test myself on some hikes at the Mt. Rainier NP before trying the Half Dome. Sincerely this year I would not probably be back in Yosemite since I'd really like to explore either the Rocky Mountain area or the Pacific Coast. So in summer, the climb to Nevada Falls is more strenuous than the rest. I can't cope well with heat, so maybe others think different. I climbed to the Nevada Fall last year and it was my first long hike of the year (perhaps Nevada Fall is not a long hike for you but it was for me...). What about the way from Glacier Point? Could you tell me something about it? Is it scenic? From my DeLorme Topo looks not very steep. Sorry I can't. Smallest thing I ever did myself in Yosemite was Yosemite Point. If you travel more than 5000 miles for a hiking vacation, you don't go for the easy loops. And I never recommend hikes I haven't gone myself before. I mentioned all small walks I know in my earlier posting (That's the thing to do on the day after a long hike). Andreas, here I have a different opinion. Last year I travelled from Italy to have a "hiking" vacation and I enjoyed a month in the southwest hiking daily, even the hikes I had were not all long and strenuos. Perhaps we just give a different meaning to the word "hike". For me a hike is walk in the nature and doesn't necessarily require a strenuous phisical effort. Some of the hikes which I remember more pleasantly are, for example, the Congress Trail (Sequoia NP) and the Navajo Loop (Bryce Canyon NP) and they're both less than 2 miles. I understand that a hike that offers a phisical challenge can give a bigger satisfaction in being completed but I think that many short hikes are anyway worth even a long trip. Ciao, Giulio |
#30
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Yosemite National Park
"adjgiulio" wrote in
: What about the way from Glacier Point? Could you tell me something about it? Is it scenic? From my DeLorme Topo looks not very steep. Do you mean the Panoramic Trail from Glacier Point to Nevada Falls? That is a spectacular trail that gets very little traffic. You can continue up to Half Dome, but the total distance will be longer than starting at Happy Isles. A nice loop hike is to take the 4 Mile Trail from Yosemite Valley up to Glacier Point, then take the Panaroma and Mist Trails back down to Yosemite Valley. That is not as long or difficult as the Half Dome Hike, but almost as scenic. |
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