I had NO idea and it wasn't until after hiking Half Dome two weeks ago and reading Stephanie's blog post on the trip that I learned this fact. How cool?!?! And I was wearing my old highschool North Face backpack while hiking. Who knew my investment into that backpack would last so long? That thing has been through alot and now has visited it's very beginning. (I know, I am wierd but I find this all too cool).
Enough about the random facts and more about the hike: Looking back on the hike I say that it is a lot like combining the experiences of sky diving and running a marathon all into a 17 hour time period.
Sky diving - scary, death defying, beautiful views, on top of the world feeling, birds eye point of view
Marathon - long journey, grueling, constant work out, sore and tired for days, requires a determination to succeed, must consider proper nutrition and fluids, strong sense of accomplishment
We started at 2:30am
We hiked all morning, stoping for pictures, snacks, water, and rest along the way
We reached the cables around 9am where I began to question
my desire to hike to the very top thus risking my life.
(that faint link up the center of the picture is a 400 foot
line of cable and people climbing up to the top)
But yet with most things that are scary in life,
the longer you look and ponder the harder it is
so you just have to get started and make it happen.
The views from the top were well worth it!
Since we hiked up in the dark we came down
to see the beatuiful waterfalls that we could only hear on the way up.
This by far was the longest, most challenging yet fun and exciting hikes I have been on.
Would I go again? I would have to respond the same way when I am asked this very question about running another marathon or skydiving. My answer is yes, but I would still have to mentally redecide to take on the challenge again. It was no small feat.
A shout out goes to Scott Porter for taking pictures!
5 comments:
am i seriously the first to comment after a post like that! wow, the pictures are AMAZING.
would you be my guide on your next hike up the mountain, or your marathon or your next skydiving jump????
what is next is the question?
AMAZING!!! I love the one of you on the edge. I want to know too, what's next? :)
great job on making it to the top of half dome. tye and i did that together the summer before Kennedi was born. I swore I would never do it again. the cables are so scary, i just don't trust the other hikers that's what it is. tye has done it a few more times since. my parents were in yosemite camping last weekend. one of my FAVorite places on earth.
wow! wow! wow! I still can't believe that you did this! Not that YOU did this, but rather, why anyone would do this. :) Gorgeous views and I'm sure a huge sense of accomplishment at the end, but kudos to you for doing it!
Awesome pictures Steph!!!! I've heard stories about how steep that is - I'm jealous - definitely on the to do list: you should frame that picture of you sitting on the edge of the cliff - it's pretty sweet!
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