Traveling To Yosemite & Hiking Half Dome Over The Years

Join us in this video showing what the journey to Yosemite looked like over the years as well the history of Half Dome itself. Hope you enjoy!
Chapters:
Glaciers: 00:17 - 00:40
Location & Geology: 00:40 - 01:09
Historical Identification of Half Dome: 01:09 - 01:43
Native American History of Yosemite Valley: 01:43 - 02:05
Arrival of 49ers: 02:05 - 02:37
Conflict & Expulsion of Natives: 02:37 - 03:11
First Main Admirer of Yosemite Valley, James Hutchings: 03:11 - 03:43
Abraham Lincoln Grants Yosemite Valley to California State: 03:43 - 04:06
Big Wigs Visit/Early Naming: 04:06 - 05:33
Early Half Dome Summit Attempt: 05:34 - 05:47
Tourism Ramps Up/First Travel Routes & Abandoned Paths : 05:47 - 07:09
First Successful Half Dome Summiting & Rope Installation: 07:08 - 07:43
John Muir & Early Conservation Efforts: 07:43 - 08:22
Yosemite Railroad: 08:22 - 08:58
Shift to Automobile: 08:58 - 09:15
Half Dome Cable Installation: 09:15 - 09:56
Internet Age Half Dome Popularity Explosion/Sad Consequences: 09:56 - 11:01
New Permit System & What Climbing Half Dome Looks Like Today: 11:01 - 12:23
Final Thoughts/There's a Snake In My Boot: 12:23 - 13:07
Business Inquiries: [e-mail]

[@DrTarrandProfessorFether]

I was in Yosemite when I was like 6 years old (1968).. and in summer, the park rangers would start a large fire on Half Dome. Then around 9:00 PM, they pushed it over the edge.. and make a fire Fall fountain. It was glorious. I believe the dark stain on the top of Half dome is the result of this. I think they stopped it in 1970's ish. I was there in January, 2020.. it was very dry and no snow.. quite warm in the sun. That year was a light snow but happened later in the winter cycle. 2022 winter was very very dry... This year, Who WHO! maximus Snow.

[@CBeard849]

I managed to make the trip to the top of Half Dome 3 times in my life. It is a challenging day hike and my 3rd trip had me almost in tears coming down because my knees were wearing out. If you are in good shape and go prepared it is a hike I highly recommend as it will leave you with memories that last a lifetime. Start before dawn and take a pair of gloves for the cables and of course don't forget your camera!

[@JoeStranzl]

It's admirable that you summited multiple times. You'll meet people in the Valley who've been up 6, 10, 12 times. But 3 sounds like a good #.

[@Pompomgrenade]

That was cool... 48 hours from Frisco to Yosemite.. This last October I rode my motorcycle from Southern silicon valley through Yosemite to 395 and back in 13 hours..

[@johnr5252]

Just watching the climb up makes me queasy, especially at the top when you are not tethered. No thanks. I’ll look at pictures.

[@jasonissertell]

Thoroughly enjoyable video!

[@markfletcher4605]

Great video, however, as a rock climber I do want to point out a dangerous misconception. You will see some people attempting to clip into the cables with a tether attached to their harness, thinking that the cable is intended as a via ferrata cable. However, the cables are NOT intended as vis ferrata protection cables. If you are clipped into the cable and fall, you will create a huge danger to other people going up and down, perhaps even causing them to fall.

[@JoeStranzl]

Many say the purpose of the cables are to hang onto. Tightly in some spots. But as you know, 1/2 Dome isn't rock climbing. I'd agree good gloves, good grip, good focus gets a reasonably fit 1/2 Dome-r to the summit every time (or nearly).

[@rmoojet157]

Great content sir. Your knowledge of Yosemite is amazing.Thanks. Might get a pop filter for your mic. And/or speak further from the mic. There's an annoying pop in the audio. GL All good.

[@Luzeon]

Dude! I’ve been waiting and wanting to show California history like this! Thank you, first time viewer, lol.

[@k1k2lee]

Would not go near Half Dome with a crazy frenzy on the cables like that “nightmare” permits work only 2 Humans on the Top when I scaled it, I kind of prefer Clouds rest I found SUB Dome more difficult than cables 🙂

[@peterosborne3700]

As a 25 year old I climbed the cables to the summit one day in 1966. I was the ONLY climber that day.

[@JoeStranzl]

Good vid. The 2007 HD pics are alarming.

[@ananda_miaoyin]

Great history. We climbed the cables back in the 80's. Going again in August...but not the cables. We will climb like men.

[@allon33]

Last Ice-Age, 20,000 years ago. Just 20,000 years.

[@ginnymurray5815]

Yawning. History lesson?

[@bigbird2451]

Some friends and I did Half Dome as a day trip from Santa Cruz. At or near that Viser overhang there's a little cave that you can climb down into that opens up to the sheer face of Half Dome. We were hanging out dangling out feet over the edge when my friends Birkenstock fell off and we watched it spiraling as it fell for So long. It landed on a shelf near the bottom for some climber to find. Then some nasty weather moved in and people rushed to get down. People were freezing up with fear on the way down forcing others to climb around them to get down.

[@DoahnKea_Tuber]

Our family had a cabin in Yosemite (Wawona) until the 1970's, as long as my memory of those simple quiet years is still intact I could never bring myself to visit modern-day Yosemite. I am grateful and okay with this.

[@dylanagli1577]

As a lover of outdoors and the climbing history in Yosemite, reading John Muir writings about the valley, I always wanted to experience it for myself. Yet I have a feeling I would be greatly disturbed by how the valley has been consumed by tourism…

[@nickherrera1041]

@@dylanagli1577I just went to Yosemite twice this month the first weekend with the cables down at half dome I saw maybe 10 other people the whole day but the next weekend I went there was definitely 50 people trying to top out I guess it’s hit or miss

[@JoeStranzl]

@@dylanagli1577 The Valley is awesome. If you choose not to go, so be it.

[@JoeStranzl]

@@nickherrera1041 Yosemite Valley is always a hit. Some just like to make excuses of why they can't muscle up & visit. More room for others.

[@JoeStranzl]

"Modern day" Yosemite? It's ok for you not to go. But it's still granite, trails, waterfalls & natural beauty. It's literally as good as ever.

[@831BeachBum]

Got to thinking if you want an interesting railroad history area to check out is in the city of Newark off of Thornton Avenue. The railroad track wye is still there. The site of the Newark rail yard built by South Pacific Coast Rail Road. SPCRR built the town. Built the churches, schools, hotels, etc. Great history there. You can still walk through the area where the Eucalyptus trees were. Lots of spikes on the ground under the Eucalyptus Lemon Gum trees. James Fair and "Hog" Davis started the RR.