Half Dome – Yosemite Musing
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Dinner at Yosemite
After your massive Half Dome hike you will be famished when you finally get back to Curry Village. After a quick shower, crawl over to the village to eat dinner. But where? And when do they close? Clip and save this blog. The buffet serves dinner until 8 pm. Just behind the bar is the kinda secret grill that is open until 9 pm. You can snag a decent burger in about 10 minutes. The favorite of many is the Pizza Deck. They close at 10 pm so for you s l o w hikers this one is your last hope. The lines are very long but the pizza is very good. If you get back real early you can dress up for the Ahwahnee dining room. It closes at 9 pm – with “appropriate” attire. If you have a ton of time take the free shuttle bus to the Yosemite Lodge complex. The Mountain Room is first class and closes at 9 pm. They do take reservations at 209-372-1274. Degnan’s Loft is open until 9 also for quick pizza. Oh, on your way back towards Curry, the Happy Isles Snack Stand is open unitl 7. Beyond that you might be dining on Power Bars and trail mix!
Bear bites man at the other Y park
A solo hiker at Yellowstone was bitten by a female grizzly bear on Friday. Although he was carrying bear spray, he was unable to get it out before the bear attacked. Duh. He sustained bites to his leg and arm before the bear grabbed his foot, shook him, released him, and left the area. He later found help. The record at our Y park is still intact. No one has ever been killed by a bear at Yosemite. A word of advice to your backpackers.There have been bear incidents well near sub dome as bears get into packs that are “hidden” by people.
Call for ideas
I am now writing the second edition of “One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome.” Release target is spring of 2012. I have amassed a ton of additional info but if there is anything you want me to include, holler. I have had requests for more emphasis on upper body training and tips on how to find the top of sub dome once the steps run out. I plan to put the GPS coordinates for the Points of Interest.
Half Dome incline
On my last hike I used a friend’s iPhone with a clinometer app to measure the incline of Half Dome’ under the cables. I put it on the rock just above the pipes at many places. The glare was too much to deal with so I only got about 5 readings. Then my digital recorder died, so I have no real record of the numbers. But I was surprised to see reading of well over 53 degrees. I will bring my mechanical device when I go up August 25. And I bought a new recorder.
Unrelated thought worth quoting: “Hello? Hello? Hello? Is there anybody in there? Just nod if you can hear me. Is there anyone at home?” – Comfortably Numb, Pink Floyd
*MrHalfDome – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com
MrHalfDome's Blog 
August 8, 2011 at 7:44 pm |
No bears go up subdome, correct?
August 8, 2011 at 7:56 pm |
The bear expert at Yosemite told me that they have had several incidents of bears snagging packs in the sub dome area over the years.
August 8, 2011 at 7:47 pm |
I saw lots of those special all red fungal flowers blooming on and near the trail in June. Perhaps you can mention them. What are they called again?
August 8, 2011 at 7:57 pm |
Dunno..I;m not a botanist…I call them “little Red flowers.” – seems to work. Look up in your floral book.
August 8, 2011 at 8:26 pm
Sarcodes Sanguinea – Snow Plant. How long have the metal fences been in place above Vernal Fall. How about the rock wall that is just beyond the metal where you come down the hill? I imagine the rock came first…
August 8, 2011 at 8:36 pm
Duno..but I do have a photo of a woman sitting there w/o the railing..I’ll post it on the blog. The current route down with the handrail along the cliff was done in 1897 replacing a wooden staircase/ladder system. Dynamite was used to blast it. The Fern Grotto is a result – it’s not natural.
August 8, 2011 at 9:45 pm
Did they blast that upper trail area just down from Nevafa Fall on John Muir Trail along the rocky cliff with Dynamite? I imagine many areas along the steep old trails were blasted with dynamite. Perhaps upper Yosemite Falls Trail? Any evidence John Muir did any dynamiting of trails?
August 9, 2011 at 7:48 am
That cliff area is called the Rock Cut also the Ice cut. – Dy-No-Mite used. No indicaton that Muir played with the stuff…he was NOT a trail builder – he was a botanist.
August 9, 2011 at 4:27 am |
I can almost taste the pizza Rick.
Less than 2 weeks to go and we will be in Yosemite…very excited despite this being our 3rd visit in 5 years.
Might not make Half Dome this time but looking forward to Clouds Rest, Taft Point and North Dome.
Anyone wants to say hello you’ll find us on the pizza deck in the evenings 21st – 24th…look for the couple with the large margaritas.
August 9, 2011 at 9:55 am |
53 degrees? I always thought it was 45 to 50 max.
August 9, 2011 at 1:00 pm |
That’s why I took measurements…only rumors…..the original engineering drawing only say “About 50 degrees.” I was getting like 56!!!
August 9, 2011 at 1:15 pm |
I’m not surprised…there are a couple of short sections that feel a lot closer to 60 than 50.
What amazed me both times I’ve been up is how suddenly the angle drops at the top and you get that fabulous feeling of gravity being your friend again…until the descent of course.
August 9, 2011 at 10:28 am |
Curry Dining Pavilion Buffet…does stop letting people in at 8 pm, but food line is open until 8:30.
they run out of stuff by then, and replace featured fish with fish sticks, etc., but you can still get a lot of variety.
August 9, 2011 at 12:59 pm |
It’s not the Ritz Carlton, but it works for me. ALL you can eat….pile it on!
Maureen – R U going to the Oakland Museum Exhibit??
August 9, 2011 at 6:10 pm |
Is the Mexican restaurant on the Northern edge of Oakhurst any good?
August 9, 2011 at 7:06 pm |
I’ve never eaten at El Cid, but I’ve heard rangers recommend it.
August 9, 2011 at 7:22 pm
I am always impressed witj tje PALM TREES out front!
August 10, 2011 at 8:56 am |
I’ve been to El Cid in 2009. Food was excellent, big portions, most folk seemed to be eating half and taking the other half home.
August 9, 2011 at 6:54 pm |
For upper and lower body conditioning there is nothing better than CrossFit. Check it out at CrossFit.com and find a local CrossFit gym near you. When I was in my late twenties I hiked from Glacier Point down to the valley on the Panarama and John Muir Trails. By the time I hit the valley floor I could barely walk. I am now 48, have been a CrossFitter for a little over two years and did Half Dome on Thursday of last week with ease. Nowhere on the trail did I feel tired or winded. I was amazed at how easy the hike actually was. My 11 year old son is also a CrossFitter and people were amazed to see this young kid pass them so easily on the way up.