The Road to Half Dome
This is not intended to be like a Bing Crosby/Bob Hope road series film (anyone under the age of 40 will have no idea what I'm talking about), but given my objective, my current fitness, and ever increasing age, it may turn out that way.
Having been a semi-serious mountain/rock-climber when I lived in Colorado, the trek up Half-Dome was never on my radar screen of things I must do (aka. bucket-list). The elevation is only 8800', and the route is non-technical - just an 18 mile slog with 1000 strangers waiting in line to haul themselves up a cabled staircase to the top. Big woo. Not quite the same as a 14K peak in January or a 5.9 route in Eldorado Canyon.
In the years since moving from Colorado to California, I have totally become acclimated to sea-level, and hiking is done in flip-flops, usually at a beach, or walking around at wineries in Napa or Paso Robles. Tough stuff. But a few years ago, my wife and I ventured to Yosemite, and after viewing Half Dome from the valley and then hiking (more like limping) up the Vernal and Nevada falls trail, I decided I need to do this sooner than later. I'm not getting any younger, and the rangers probably will not allow anyone up on a walker.
So I started applying for the annual permit lottery each year - much like the Powerball and MegaMillions lotteries, my hopes were dashed each year....until now. A miracle - I have a permit for August 1st for a party of 3, and even managed to get a reservation for a tent at Curry Village (or whatever the name is now...Half Dome Village I think). Everything seems to have fallen into place. Except for one thing. How do I get myself into shape for an 18 mile round-trip hike, with 4800' elevation gain this summer. Yikes! (I'm leaving this blog expletive free if I can). I'm out of shape, stressed out, and much like the Terminator, old but hopefully not obsolete.
This blog then will be a record of my preparation for the great adventure, and with some luck, a photo filled entry for my successful ascent in August.
Start - the first post
The Road to Half Dome
So I started applying for the annual permit lottery each year - much like the Powerball and MegaMillions lotteries, my hopes were dashed each year....until now. A miracle - I have a permit for August 1st for a party of 3, and even managed to get a reservation for a tent at Curry Village (or whatever the name is now...Half Dome Village I think). Everything seems to have fallen into place. Except for one thing. How do I get myself into shape for an 18 mile round-trip hike, with 4800' elevation gain this summer. Yikes! (I'm leaving this blog expletive free if I can). I'm out of shape, stressed out, and much like the Terminator, old but hopefully not obsolete.
This blog then will be a record of my preparation for the great adventure, and with some luck, a photo filled entry for my successful ascent in August.
Start - the first post
Defenestration is a good way to train
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