Ski's Hiking Journal: Half Dome - Saturday, September 9 & Sunday, September 10, 1967

11 SEP 67

When I left the tropical mountains of Taiwan for the scrap iron pile known as the USS RANGER several months ago, I hardly thought of the possibility of doing any more climbing until my Navy tour was over. Getting off the ship for any extended period of time, and rustling up civilian clothes, equipment, and transportation, rates a mountain journey somewhere between impossible and ridiculous. Anyway, so it seemed until the past weekend. For through a hastily prepared but eagerly executed plan, we were able to climb the much celebrated Half Dome in Yosemite National Park.

In true climbing fashion, the whole thing started as a lark. Just on an impulse, I suggested to a couple of the guys that we rent a car for the weekend and go to Yosemite – two days before the weekend! Needless to say, the idea caught on and Friday night found us buzzing along California 120 in a VW – merrily on our way. I had a few ill feelings before hand about the lack of equipment, (most of us had only the clothes on our backs – sweatshirts, white Levis, etc, and rented sleeping bags!), but the devil may care spirit in me (of which there is very little!) got the better of me!

Our climbing adventures began late the next morning. We all wanted to hike somewhere back in the boonies but none of us had any knowledge of local trails. Consequently, we inquired at the Ranger’s office and were sent off in the general direction of Half Dome. The trail was generally good – the only bad feature being the overabundance of horse apples! The lunch break on the trail was really fine. As we munched our bologna sandwiches and drank the cold stream water, I couldn’t help remember the wonderful times I’ve had in the mountains so far.

We pressed on for another four hours after lunch and came eventually to the foot of the steep granite slope that makes up the last 600 feet of the mountain. This part of the climb is a little hairy, even if it is done with the help of the cable bolted into the face. The thing that made it seem a bit frightening to me was the way in which my leather-soled Navy boon dockers slid upon the smooth granite – like driving on an oil slick with bald tires! (It seemed as if every time I have need of my hiking gear – such as my boots – it is neatly packed away at home!) Nevertheless, we prevailed, and soon we were atop the 8,842 ft peak. Indeed, a good feeling it was to get back on a mountain top after such a long time.

In contrast to the five hours that it took to go up, we buzzed down in three! One of the highlights of the journey down was the use of another trail for the final leg back to the starting point at Happy Isles. This trail started at Nevada Falls and worked its way down a rock-stream slope between the falls and a vertical granite face. Friendly place that!

Somehow, we made it down to the bug, propped ourselves up against a few convenient trees, and proceeded to toast our efforts with several cold Coors! And it was a good sized effort as far as we were concerned. We had climbed 8,842 ft Half Dome and hoofed about 20 miles in the process. A good show indeed. Twas a pity that our visit couldn’t have been a few days longer!