Yosemite's Half Dome

Yosemite National Park is one of California’s treasured natural preserves. One of the nation’s first wilderness parks , Yosemite encompasses 761,266 acres or 1189 square miles. The “park” actually spans over three million acres of the Sierra Nevada if adjoining wilderness preserves, as designated by Congress, are included.

Yosemite makes natural wilderness -- rivers and waterfalls, cliffs and meadows – readily accessible every year to three and a half million tourists, campers, and hikers from all corners of the world. For San Diegans, accustomed to long commutes, it is merely 450 miles away or a pleasant 8-hour drive up I-5.

We owe a debt of gratitude to pioneers like Galen Clark, Yosemite’s first official guardian, and naturalist John Muir. Their efforts led to the preservation of this vast wilderness for generations to enjoy. Presidents Roosevelt and Lincoln as well issued presidential directives to protect this environmentally “green” project.

Have you given in to your adventurous side and climbed Yosemite’s El Capitan, or its second great cliff, the 87 million-year-old Half Dome? I have climbed Half Dome twice, and as quickly regretted it. It is a grueling ascent to a height of 8,836 feet above sea level. Hikers gifted with prime cardiovascular reserves and well-oiled limbs can make the extremely strenuous hike in 12 hours or less. For weaker mortals, like myself, the hours can painfully stretch much longer.

We have been trekking to Yosemite for years. The crisp mountain air and starry nights are unfailingly a pleasant way to spend summer days and nights with family and friends. We’ve pitched tents by its streams, gone fishing, built campfires, and slept in campers . We’ve also rented cots at Camp Curry or availed of more comfort at the Lodge, hiked through the meadows, and climbed up to the waterfalls.

In recent years, led by my naturalist brother Robert, we’ve set our sights to climbing the daunting Half Dome cliff. Five years ago, I almost died after a punishing day long hike when my knee gave out four miles into the descent back to the valley. But memory is short, and challenged (taunted, really) by my physically fit progenies a year ago, I climbed it a second time. Which endeavor resulted in blisters, aching limbs, and the loss of at least four toenails.

My consolation was that, as darkness descended on the way back to camp, bears and mountain lions had either had their supper or simply failed to spot me. Hikers of Yosemite have been known to simply disappear during nightfall -- into the bellies of beasts, presumably.

I’m not sure if the privilege of wearing “I climbed Half Dome and made it” is good enough to justify this insanity. But I have to say it is worth doing, at least once in your life -- like skydiving or sailing around the world.

Summer is just around the corner. Put Yosemite in the top of your list. You will not regret it, unless you fall into the temptation of climbing Half Dome, or El Capitan. Just kidding...

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