Half Dome (cables down)
I learned about Half Dome the exact same hour I learned about Yosemite. It’s the iconic, majestic trail known worldwide, and for good reason. Because of its popularity, getting on it usually requires winning a highly competitive preseason lottery.
For two years, I applied religiously. Result: Denied. For another year, I posted in hiking groups and begged around for an open spot. Result: Nothing.
It felt like the universe was keeping me off that rock. But then, a little bit of climber luck changed everything.
My friend Lauren was planning a trip to Yosemite for some rock climbing. I asked if I could hitch a ride, mentioning I was looking for either a massive day hike or—if the stars aligned—Half Dome.
There was a catch: the cables were down for the season.
When the cables are "down," it means the support poles have been removed, leaving the steel cables lying flat against the smooth, steep granite. It’s a completely different beast than the standard summer hike. Instead of backing away, Lauren jumped at the chance. As a climber, she offered to bring harnesses, a Personal Anchor System (PAS), and prusik loops so we could safely clip into the downed cables.
We packed our gloves, laced up, and just like that, the dream was on.
Tip: Stay in a campsite in the valley. It will make it so much easier to leave from camp and start hiking right away in the morning!
The Ascent: Mist Trail to the Subdome
We hit the trail at 6:30 AM sharp from the Upper Pines campground, choosing the infamous Mist Trail.
Mist Falls
In the fall season, there is less water than visiting in the spring and getting wet as you are passing.
Passing by the roaring Vernal and Nevada Falls early in the morning was the perfect warmup for what was to come.
By 10:45 AM, we were standing at the base of the subdome, looking straight up at the cable route.
Gulp.
/| <-- 45 degrees of pure granite
/ |
/ |
/___|
Seeing that incline in person is a completely different experience than looking at photos. It is steep. I stood there staring at the sheer face of the rock, suddenly questioning all my life choices. Should I switch to my sticky rock climbing shoes, or trust my trail runners? After a moment of hesitation, I decided to stick with my Altra trail runners.
Required Gear List
Climbing Harness: A standard, well-fitting rock climbing harness.
Friction Hitch Material: 2x loops of 6mm or 7mm nylon climbing accessory cord (tied into loops using a double fisherman's knot) OR 2x pre-sewn hollow braids/Prusik loops (like a Sterling HollowBlock). Note: Ensure your cord is thinner than the steel cable so it bites properly.
Lanyards/PAS: 2x dynamic locking lanyards or a dual Personal Anchor System (PAS) to connect your harness to the friction hitches.
Locking Carabiners: 2x large, auto-locking or screw-gate carabiners.
Good pair of shoes. Rubber bottom such as climbing shoes or approach shoes are preferred.
Heavy-Duty Leather Gloves: The cables are frayed, rough, and dirty.
45 Minutes of Pure Adrenaline
What followed was one of the most unbelievable, surreal experiences of my life.
Because the cables were flat on the rock, we had to haul ourselves up while using our prusiks to catch us if we slipped. About 25% of the way up, as the exposure started to really pull at my vision, I clipped in my PAS for an extra layer of security.
Surprisingly, the granite felt incredibly sticky under my shoes, and my gloves bit into the steel cables with a steady, reassuring grip. Still, my heart was hammering a frantic rhythm against my ribs, and my palms were sweating inside my gloves.
The cable portion is technically short, but when you are treating every step like your life depends on it, time stretches. It took us 45 minutes of intense focus to pull ourselves over the lip.
But when we did? Pure relief.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Total euphoria. I was exhausted, terrified, and overwhelmingly happy all at the same time. We celebrated with a hard-earned lunch break, snapped some classic summit photos, and soaked in the high-altitude reward.
Kissing Solid Ground
The descent was a test of knees and nerves, but thankfully, a cool breeze kept our heads clear. Walking down backward or sideways on smooth granite is a mental game, but we took our time, trusting our gear.
When my feet finally touched flat, horizontal, solid dirt again, I literally kissed the ground. In that exact moment, my heart was filled completely with pure, unadulterated happiness. Three years of waiting, packaged into one perfect, adrenaline-fueled day.
We rolled back into the campground at 5:30 PM, just as dawn was fading into dusk.