Epic Hikes of the World ( PDFDrive )

HALF DOME, USA
Yosemite National Park bombards you with sensational mountainscapes on mile
after mile of hiking trails into the wild blue yonder. But those hankering after a
pulse-racing challenge get their kicks on Half Dome, an 8844ft (2695m) fang of
rock. Make sure you begin at sunrise for this awesome 10-to 12-hour hike, leading
past tall rock faces, thunderous, rainbow-kissed falls (if you go via the Mist Trail)
and forests where black bears hang out. It’s a long day’s trek, but the real
cliffhanger is the final, knuckle-whitening climb up Half Dome’s vertical granite
eastern slope, a breathtakingly steep cabled ascent that plays out in slow motion.
Besides bragging rights, your reward at the summit is the knockout view of Liberty
Cap, Yosemite Valley and the High Sierra.
Start/End // Happy Isles (shuttle stop 16), ¾ mile (1.2km) from the trailhead
Distance // 16 miles (26km) round trip
More info // A limited number of permits are available via a lottery system – visit www.nps.gov.
Campsites should be booked ahead
© Alvaro Trabazo Rivas | Shutterstock
scaling Half Dome in Yosemite National Park