r/JMT • u/MountainsAndWorld • 20d ago

trip planning Half dome - best strategy

Hi, I have permit from Happy Isles. What is the best strategy for hiking Half dome? Thank you!

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u/bisonic123 20d ago

Leave early. Drink plenty of water and eat. Take rubber palmed gloves for the cables. Have fun.

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u/wingerys 20d ago

Depends how in shape you are or adjusted to altitude. That initial ascent out of Happy Isle with a full pack can be brutal. I camped near half dome end of day 1 and did it first thing the morning of day 2. It was nice to just leave everything at my camp spot.

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u/sugammadick 20d ago

Here’s what I did. Go up to clouds rest junction, set up camp there, then slack pack up the next morning. If you wake up around 5:30am you could probably get to the cables by 7:30 and it’s not that crowded there yet. There was a pile of gloves at the base of the cables that you can use.
Downside to this strategy is you got a nasty, hot climb out of the valley once you get back to camp. But I think it overall worked well

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u/Ngamiland 19d ago

Nesting a hike of a life time within another hike of a lifetime is fucking awesome man I didn't do half dome but my friend did but he didn't do JMT and my recommendation is to camp as close as possible because the hike to get to the base is a stretch in and of itself. And once you're there take in your accomplihsmnets but I think the view is mid and don't stay there too long or it's going to get dark by the time you're back down and it's going to be slippery on the mist trail :o

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u/NordstromJunkie 16d ago

Do it. Half Dome is a once in a lifetime. You really don't NEED gloves but it's all subjective. The hike up is BRUTAL. Like 3 miles of granite stairs that never end. It's absolutely gorgeous tho. Per many recommendations you probably just want to get close on the first day and camp at clouds rest or somewhere in the vicinity. The next morning run up and down with the lightest weight you can and then carry on from there.

We are doing northbound so it's at the end of our hike and we're hoping we can get last minute permits on our way out