For those of you who did not know, the permitting process for day hikes up Half Dome actually started this week. During the month of March you can log onto Recreation.gov to submit a lottery application to hike Half Dome. Although some of you may be successful in winning that “Golden Ticket;” I do want you to know that there are other means of reaching that summit.
On many of our fully-supported backpacking trips Half Dome is just one of many highlights throughout the span of the adventure. For example on our 3 Summits/3 Sunsets tour, every participant has a chance to summit three major peaks while camping besides some magnificent high alpine lakes and rivers. In addition to Half Dome, the other two lesser known peaks include Clouds Rest (Half Dome’s taller neighbor to the north standing at 9,926’) and Mount Hoffman (10,850’ and recognized as one of John Muir’s favorite views, Mt. Hoffman is also the geographical center of the entire Yosemite). On these trips we can outfit you with all the gear you need at no extra cost and you can leave the cooking to us as you relax in the great outdoors.
As the options for conquering Half Dome slowly decrease, I encourage you to check out one of our backpacking trips that are sure to Create Memories that Last a Lifetime!