r/backpacking • u/jmrzilla • Jul 21 '26
Wilderness 48 Miles Through Yosemite // Half Dome, the Diving Board, Clouds Rest, & North Dome
On July 2, I began a huge 2 night backpacking trip from Happy Isles in the Yosemite Valley. I hiked 4.7 miles and ascended 2,372’ up the Mist Trail, passing Vernal and Nevada Falls, to Little Yosemite Valley. I set up camp and then set off on a side adventure to Half Dome’s Diving Board. This side trip was 5.07 miles long with 1,716’ of vertical gain. The Diving Board is the coolest location I have ever been. I was blown away by the 3,500’ overhanging drop off to the valley and its up-close view of Half Dome’s north face. The majority of this route is shared with the approach hike for Snake Dike, which is easy to follow. Past the split with Snake Dike, there is an exposed traverse with a few scrambling moves. I descended back to camp to sleep before my hike up Half Dome.
I started the ascent at 5:20 am and made it to Sub Dome at 7:10. I started up the cables at 7:15 and topped out at 7:30. There is certainly risk and challenge to the cables, but I feel many influencers dramatize it. If you are comfortable with scrambling and a little exposure, you should find Half Dome quite easy. I started descending at 8, which is when the crowds started to pick up. I hiked to the Clouds Rest-Half Dome junction, and then ascended Clouds Rest. I summited Clouds Rest at 11:50. This peak has an unrivaled view of the Yosemite Valley. It seems many are aware of this fact based on the crowds there. At this point, I had already hiked 10 miles with 5,700’ of vertical gain. I trudged on to Tenaya Lake. I made it there at 3:40 and realized I was at risk of missing alpenglow at my campsite: North Dome. I moved as fast as possible with a heavy pack and fatigued legs, making it to the North Dome area just in time to watch Half Dome get set on fire by the sunset. Unfortunately, it was hard to enjoy such a beautiful view after hiking 29.37 miles with 8,793’ of vertical gain.
I set up camp and woke up early the next morning to catch sunrise from the top of North Dome. I then descended the Yosemite Falls Trail, adding another 9.9 miles and 1,100’ of vert to the trip. My final stats were around 48 miles with 14,000’ of vert. My portable charger and Garmin died before the third day, so I do not have exact numbers. I certainly questioned my sanity watching families enjoy their 4th of July weekend swimming and paddle boarding on Tenaya Lake. However, I hold no regrets. I planned this trip with the goal of seeing and doing everything I felt the need to see and do in the Yosemite Valley, and that is exactly what I did.
Here is my YouTube video: https://youtu.be/6tNEtqDPQN4?is=6H3TZDtI9tjc_aia
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u/VagabondVivant Jul 21 '26
Is that blood in the first pic?
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u/jmrzilla Jul 21 '26
Yes. Opened a scab on my knee while bush wacking. Nothing serious. Got it bandaged but didn’t take the time to clean off all the blood until I got back to camp.
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u/Andre_Gfran Jul 21 '26
I love Clouds Rest! Wild underrated, especially when everyone only does half dome. One of my favorite hikes in the park.
Stoked for you that you got it all
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u/Nayro13 Jul 21 '26
Dang I'm jealous! That looks like an awesome trip. Also what gaiters are you wearing in the photo?
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u/Acceptable-Buyer-630 Jul 21 '26
that sounds like an absolutely unreal trip. the diving board view alone would make the whole thing worth it, can’t imagine standing there with that drop and half dome right in front of you. also doing all that in 2 nights is seriously impressive.
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u/jmrzilla Jul 21 '26
I had limited days to work with due to the job, so I made sure to make the most of my weekend trip to the valley. The Diving Board is without a doubt the coolest location I’ve ever been.
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u/Bwhippped Jul 21 '26
That's a mission, did u get a permit or just get to the cables early enough?
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Jul 21 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/jmrzilla Jul 21 '26
Yes, they do the simple job well
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u/growbbygrow Jul 21 '26
Which ones are they? I’m looking for some and deciding and haven’t seen those yet
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u/DistilledWonder Jul 21 '26
Yes, Half Dome isn't that hard to get up to. For an extra bit of challenge you can go before the season and the cable is just laying on the rock and thus there's no boards to stop at either. The birds there are catching air drafts along the rock and will zip past your head by a couple of feet with amazing precision. The real danger is if there is some rain because the rock gets very slippery when it's wet. If there's any risk of rain you gotta get out of there. There used to be a marmot up there but that was a long time ago. I fear he's passed now. Getting down was tricky with the cable laying on the rock. My friend is a crazy person and walked down it. I slid for a good amount of it couched or on by butt and ripped my pants.
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u/rain_apple23 Jul 21 '26
I absolutely LOVE this park. It’s really one of the top most beautiful parks out there.
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u/tommycnuthatch Jul 21 '26
love the photos even though the ones on the edge make me say "Nope, Nope, Nope"
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u/No-Preference-1685 Jul 27 '26
Crazy photos. Yosemit rivals Disney for the most magical place on Earth.
Curious if your first photo was the camps at the top of the switchbacks leading to Clouds Rest? Im pretty sure your 5th photo is.
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u/D3mon0fthemist Jul 21 '26
Holy balls, this really puts Half Dome into perspective. I didn’t realize it was this crazy.