Kent on Half Dome

May 29, 2006

Kent made it to the top of Half Dome (the most famous peak in Yosemite) with incredible style and good cheer.  18 miles round trip hike today.  4800 feet of elevation change.  We left at 6:15AM (after feeding the boys hot chocolate) and got to the top at noon.  Even two rangers that were there applauded the boys.  There was nobody else under the age of 16 up there today.  We had to cross one snow field at the top of Half Dome's shoulder.  Kent handled the cables with ease, although both dads were nervous.   We were back to the valley by 6PM.

Both 7-year-old boys were incredibly psyched and proud  Kent was grinning like a baboon the entire day.  He wanted to be first to the top and first back down again.   Kent nearly skipped down the hill, although he did say that his feet were tired near the bottom.  And tonight when I brought him in from the car he said his legs hurt.

Tunnel View and Sentinal Dome

Here are pictures of Kent from Tunnel View and from on top of Sentinal Dome.

• Kent's Goal - The top of Half Dome - small, medium and large
• Malcolm and Kent on top of Sentinal Dome - small, medium and large
• Kent points to Half Dome - small, medium and large
• Kent on top of Sentinal Dome - small, medium and large
• Kent on top of Sentinal Dome - small, medium and large
• Kent below Sentinal Dome - small, medium and large
• Coming down off Sentinal Dome - SNOW - small, medium and large
• The trail off Sentinal Dome - small, medium and large
• More snow at the bottom - small, medium and large

Waloodi did it too.  Here are pictures from Tunnel View and from the top of Sentinal Dome.

• Waloodi at Tunnel View - small, medium and large
• Waloodi points to our goal (Half Dome) - small, medium and large
• Waloodi with Bridalveil Waterfall in the distance - small, medium and large
• Waloodi hunting big pine cones - small, medium and large
• Waloodi finding logs - small, medium and large
• Shihab looking down on Yosemite Falls from Sentinal Dome - small, medium and large
• Shihab and Waloodi coming down from Sentinal Dome - small, medium and large

Both boys were excited and competitive to see who could be the highest

• Waloodi and Kent play - small, medium and large
• More climbing by Kent and Waloodi - small, medium and large
• Kent and Waloodi explore - small, medium and large
• Kent, Shihab and Waloodi try to surround a tree - small, medium and large

Half Dome

• Hot chocolate for the boys before we start - small, medium and large
• Happy Trails at 6:15AM - small, medium and large
• Waloodi and Shihab on the Mist Trail - small, medium and large
• Waloodi and Shihab on the Mist Trail - small, medium and large
• Shihab - small, medium and large
• Kent below Nevada Falls - small, medium and large

Climbing through Little Yosemite Valley

• The last switchbacks before Little Yosemite Valley - small, medium and large
• Shihab, Kent and Waloodi make it to Little Yosemite Valley - small, medium and large
• Spring flowers - small, medium and large
• A deer looking for lunch crosses our trail - small, medium and large
• We get our first view of Half Dome from the side - small, medium and large
• Kent climbing the stairs! - small, medium and large

We can see the top.  The only thing that remains is the.... cables!!!!  Catch our breath and then up we go.

• Kent and Malcolm on the shoulder - small, medium and large
• Kent, Shihab and William - small, medium and large
• Waloodi and Shihab on the cables - small, medium and large
• Waloodi and Shihab start to smile on the cables - small, medium and large
• Waloodi near the top of the cables - small, medium and large
• Kent going back down the cables!!! - small, medium and large

The top of Half Dome!!!!  Kent and Waloodi both made it to the top in 6 hours!!!  Whooyah!

• Kent on top of Half Dome - Looking up Tenaya Canyon - small, medium and large
• Kent and Malcolm on the diving board - small, medium and large
• Kent on top of Half Dome - Looking west - small, medium and large
• Shihab on the diving board - small, medium and large
• Kent and Malcolm on top - small, medium and large
• Kent celebrates! - small, medium and large
• Kent on top - looking towards south-west (with snow) - small, medium and large

Waloodi made it too!

• Waloodi fills up on chocolate - small, medium and large
• Waloodi and Shihab - small, medium and large
• Kent, Shihab and Waloodi on top - small, medium and large

Six more hours and we're home (12 hour round trip, including lunch).  Everybody was very happy.

• Waloodi is happier off the cables - small, medium and large
• Waloodi walks the log - small, medium and large
• Waloodi and Shihab ambling through Little Yosemite Valley - small, medium and large
• Waloodi, Shihab and Kent point to the top - small, medium and large
• Kent throwing rocks into the Merced River from Little Yosemite Valley - small, medium and large
• Kent walking back down the Mist Trail - small, medium and large