Half Dome (Cables Down)
5/14/2004

Except for a poorly chosen shortcut on the way out, this was an excellent day.  This trip
was all about going up Half Dome with the cables down.  Having done Half Dome with
the cables UP last year, I wanted to up the ante and try it with the cables down.  I
was not disappointed.

Log:

06:45am - Arrived at hiker parking area
07:05am - Started hiking toward the trailhead
07:22am - Reached the large Trail Mileage Sign 
08:31am - Reached Nevada Falls (via the JMT)
10:34am - Reached the base of the cables
10:44am - Started up the cables
10:59am - Reached the highest point on Half Dome
12:26pm - Started heading down the cables
12:41pm - Reached the base of the cables
01:11pm - After a brief shortcut arrived back on the main trail
02:07pm - Found Lost Lake (mosquito infested swamp)
03:06pm - Descended between Grizzly Peak and Mount Broderick (yuck!)
03:26pm - Arrived at the North side of the Merced River above Vernal Falls and Emerald Pool
03:37pm - Rejoined the trail and crossed the footbridge above Emerald Pool
04:22pm - Reached trailhead mileage sign
04:38pm - Arrived back at vehicle

Stats:

Time from Parking Lot to Half Dome Summit: 3 hrs 54 mins
Time from Half Dome Summit back to Parking Lot (not optimal): 4 hrs 12 mins
Time on Top of Half Dome: 1 hr 27 mins

Notes:

Cross-country from Little Yosemite Valley toward the Dome can save 1.25 miles and
reduce the one-way milesage to about 5 miles