We started out with a fireside feast the night before, got up at the crack of dawn, and were on the trail at 8. Just after 10 we were at the top of Nevada Falls, which is about 3 miles and 2000 ft elevation gain. It was nice and cool during that part, so it was pretty nice. After that it's about 4.5 miles to the base of the dome. It starts off at a shallow grade, and then the final two miles get steeper and steeper, for around 1600 ft more gain.

By the time we got the base of the dome, and we were all together again and a little rested (Paul, Speros, and I waited for Staci and Jason to see if they'd attempt the summit with us) it was 2 in the afternoon. Staci and Jason turned around and the three of us went on to do the last 1000 feet. Let me tell you, it looks pretty freaky when you get to the top of Half Dome's shoulder after the really steep switchbacking. It looks like you

climb straight up the side of the rock. At the base of the cables, we grabbed some gloves and started to head up. Then Paul and I promptly headed back down because the gloves we picked up were slicker than snot, so we grabbed different pairs and went on again. (Speros was using marching band gloves, which surprisingly have a lot of grip.)

Between the huge step sizes in the switchbacks, steepness of the cables, and the traffic on both, it took us an hour and a half to get up the last 1000 feet or so. Going up the cables (the last 400 ft) is awkward in some spots, and a little more exciting than you bargain for when people coming down the cables start sliding into you, given that if you fall, you die, which has been happening quite a bit in recent years.

At any rate, we made it to the top!

Coming down the cables was actually a lot of fun for me. Most people go down backwards (like on a ladder), very slowly. I, on the other hand, was having a lot of fun going forward, staring 400 feet down, walking and inevitably sliding the whole way down. Going down the 1000 ft that took 1.5hrs to go up, only took us 30 min to go down. La la la, we kept hiking all the way back and eventually caught up with Jason and Staci at the top of Vernal Falls, just after passing a rescue team carrying down a hiker. Speros and I jogged most of the way to the bottom from there. In total, it took us 11 hours for all 15ish miles and 4800 feet. Oh and did I mention it was over 100 F degrees?

This is a view from the "shoulder." Note the skinny middle section. One either side is a big big drop.

I should have taken better pictures for a better panorama. It doesn't line up perfectly, but the shape is pretty dead on.