I have been up three times and one time in October we made it to the top with the poles down and we didn't use a harness. Probably not the smartest thing to do. I was up on top for about 20 minutes before my friends made it up. We were all by ourselves for quite a while. A memory I will never forget. Well done!
Excellent video, Joey! And you even stopped to pick up litter! Good for you! Even though I made it to the top in the summer of 2016 at the age of 70, it still gave me a thrill to see you casually walking and jumping along the edge with that ice on those rocks! I can't believe you did the cables with no gloves! Weren't they cold? Good job, young man!
Thanks Gary! Wow, I hope I'm still climbing when I'm 70, that's incredible! It was cold at first but once I got my blood moving I warmed up quickly. Take care!
My palms are sweating just watching this! Dude you've got balls of steel going up there in the winter and walking so close to the edge. I couldn't even attempt this hike in the summer lol
I’ve done Half Dome 5 times… before they started the permit thing. Pretty awesome seeing you doing off-season… but seeing jump around at the with your crampons… made me kind of nervous. Haha. Nice job.
Ya.........I'd skip the crampon on the cable section. Done it about 10 times now.......1-2 times w/ the cables UP, the rest "off-season" w/ them down. "Down" and "Off-Season" are the ONLY way to go. P.S...........Skip the harness (IMHO)
@@VincentTamer Maybe I should retract that "Skip the harness" as to each his/her own re: safety gear/precautions. Personally, I've always just laid hands on the cable and up/down I go. Just personal preference........Never felt the need for "safety gear".
Beautiful film. Quite amazing to bear in mind just how popular Yosemite is and its proximity to the huge metropolitan hubs of California while watching one guy with the mountains to himself! And nice touch with the stray candy wrapper! Its got me in the mood for my wildcamping trip to the Italian Dolomites soon as restrictions are lifted on international travel! Thankyou.
@@summitsparrow It is as spectacular in its own way as Yosemite. I dont do much climbing I'm more a lover of mountains and wild nature. You'd love it there!
Nice View. Filming by yourself is always a challenge. It gets me angry how people leave their trash. It really shows who a person is by throwing it on the ground.
Great job! I have hiked to the top of Half Dome 3 times, with one time being in October when the cables were down. I also climbed the Snake Dike route on HD. I have to say, seeing this done in snow with crampons takes it to a whole new level! It looks so much steeper than I remember, but if my memory serves me, the last time I was up there was about 17 years ago! Nice video and well done!
Whew Joey! Thank you for the ENJOYABLE hike.Great narration and you provided useful information as well as some absolutely stunning footage! Great video of a superb hike!
I concur with those that mentioned you took unnecessary risks walking on the edge the way you did it. Well done and spectacular filming. All the best in your future adventures
I think people who sit on their butts on the weekends and eat fast food take unnecessary risks. I guess it just depends on how you look at it. Happy trails to you!
@@summitsparrow I couldn’t agree more. I use to follow two RU-vidrs that are no longer with us. Both fell down a mountain. The Swiss machine was one, can’t recall the name of the other one.
I've been up 2x, but both summer ascents. I guess it never occurred to me that "Cables Down" just meant that the Poles are not up. The hardest physical part I've always thought was getting to the top of the sub-dome. Watching you go up the ice/snow steps there had me at "nope!" The cable section... we always lock in with a 2 carabiner set up. I suppose you could still do that to prevent rolling off the edge, but a fall would still roll you to the bottom, a disaster.
A carabiner clip-in works well, although a fall on a static line like that could break a pelvis. Some people choose to use no pro at all, which is certainly faster, and I'd argue, a bit more enjoyable. Whatever is your level of comfort, do that, as long as you get up there to the summit and make it back safely! Take care!
Omg! I was scared for you!! Every time you got close to the ledge I could barely watch without being squeamish (sp?) and backing away from the screen 😂. Then I thought you where climbing up /down without anything , just holding onto that cable but thank god u did!
Nice! I spent the winter of 1980 from January to May winter mountaineering Yosemite. Once with a friend from Mariposa we went up to the saddle between Clouds Rest and Half Dome and my friend climbed up using the cables to ascend Half Dome. I chose not too as it was cloudy and Half Dome was covered in them. We also continued on and went to and camped on Clouds Rest's top. That was my last winter in Yosemite. I was 24 years old.
If you slipped up there, you would not come close to surviving. I've done it. You have no idea. You slip, slide, tumble and go over the edge. It is a very long way down.
one thing I noticed w the poles is that it might be better for you to go opposite of what youre currently doing, so left pole forward right foot forward etc
Been up to the top several times.... before permits. Getting older but have one more climb up there. Gonna skip permits and doing cables only. Probably solo.
Beautiful and excellent video! Was that a Prussik hitch attached to your body harness? Good idea. Do not crampons get kind of slippery on rock? I have been to the top twice, once using only the unfixed cables.
Thanks! I used an autoblock but a prusik can also be used. The autoblock is a little easier to tie. I wasn't sure how much snow would be up there but honestly for the subdome you want to have crampons. It's a great hike and I hope you can go back again a 3rd time!
The spot where you put your foot on the edge is where several people have fallen and died, if I am not wrong. You are definitely not afraid of heights.
What are the ethics out in Yosemite for crampons on non-climbing routes? I can't imagine extended crampon-on-granite is smiled upon, but that is a high use area anyways.
I’m always happy to hear LNT ideas. My thoughts are that if it was a softer rock like sandstone I might be more concerned. These huge granite blocks aren’t exactly delicate; you could bang on them with a sledgehammer and you wouldn’t be able to make a mark. My recommendation is to bring crampons for the subdome section, as a slip there can easily be fatal if it is snow-covered and you slide down to the bottom.
@@summitsparrow Crampons scratch all rock to varying degrees, but I think you've got the right point. Granite is very resilient and it was safer to keep crampons on.
You can do it! A harness and safety line can really help with the mental side. Physically, I think anyone can do the hike itself with adequate prep and conditioning.
Your spike shoes are great for the snow and ice portions of the trail but to climb vertical stone I would think the “sticky rubber” of the sole of the rock climbing shoes would provide better traction.
The act of taking crampons off adds additional risk to the equation because if you drop them down the cliff, without crampons you will not be able to descend the subdome safely when there is snow on that part of the route. You are free to climb it in any way you choose as long as you come back down to tell the tale.
It's very beautiful video, I like it but I am afraid when you walk at the rock like that. be careful Joey, nice to know you, from Brian n Hasya at Padang west Sumatra Indonesia
joey , crampons needed end of October ? Also can you register for a camping spot online where you camped? whats your camera setup?! great hike and stunning video footage! I'm doing this hike soon and your video def inspired me more so.
I camped in Little Yosemite Valley. Right now you need to reserve a permit in advance but if you go later in the year (I went Nov) you just have to fill out a self-issued permit the morning of at the Visitor's Center. I'm glad to hear! Much luck to you on your quest!
Wow! I have hiked HD in the summer and done the cables but you took it to a whole new level. I’ve used crampons on ice but never seen them used on granite. Do they have good traction? I would have thought rock climbing shoes. Also no gloves on the cables? Not being critical just curious.
This is really inspiring me to do this with the cables down. Very cool. I'm familiar with the prusik knot, but what would you call that wrapping technique you used? 😎👍
Great video. Big thumbs up! Did you ever consider taking off your crampons when on bare rock or was there a lot of icy patches that made crampons necessary?
Yes, but I'd rather keep them on because I needed them for the subdome on the way down. I made another video where I explain why I did this and other safety concerns in a video called Half Dome Safety.
That's insane! how do you manage to carry so much weight on your back? I did a 4-hour hike with a 3,000 ft elevation gain and my backpack barely weighed 14 pounds and my shoulders were killing me the next day!
Yeah two days would have been better. 20 miles and a little climbing can do you in. Brought Zephyr the German Sheppard with no hiccups from the park service. One of the few K-9s to summit Half Dome
Ignorant of logistics involved so if I may…….If cables are down what cable is he using to climb? Who preceded him? Kudos to the photographer who at times preceded the climber to chronicle his progress.
Hi there Chris. So, what happens is the don't actually take those cables down in the winter. They just take down the poles that hold them up. I posted another video called "Half Dome Safety" where I cover all the commonly asked questions about the hike during the off season. Happy holidays and take care! Joey
Who was filming with the view of you going up? Did you have a drone? Those spikes are crazy to be climbing this in. Could you maybe have changed to a better shoe? I loved that you picked up the garbage! Some humans are awful who do not deserve this beauty unless it was a complete accident and they didn't realize they'd dropped it :)... I was terrified FOR you jumping all around the edge like that! When you say cables down- does the park take them down in the off season?
Hi Janine, I filmed the entire thing with a tripod and nylon slings. I'm not a drone guy. It's also illegal to fly them in national parks. The cables are actually never pulled off completely but rather the poles that hold them up are. I go into more detail in another video called Half Dome Safety. Thank you for your comment and take care!
Man that’s extraordinary. You’ve got some balls. I thought in off season they take the cables down? They just take the poles down and leave the cables?
Hi Derrik, yes, that's right, the cables themselves are always there. Only the poles that hold them up are taken down. My favorite time to go is Springtime, hands-down. You have the waterfalls raging, some snow left over, and no crowded lines on the cables.
@@summitsparrow That sounds good. I may go in may before the official season. When would you say the last of the snow melts off the sub dome and dome summit? I’d rather not have to deal with it or crampons. When was the video and filmed when you went? Thanks.
@@derrikferguson3219Hi Derrik, good question. In Spingtime the snow will be a totally different texture, much harder and firmer. It's the powder snow that is really dangerous because your crampons will not adhere to it. What you can do is check the live webcams, which will give you an idea of what conditions will look like. I filmed this video in November, and there was a fair amount of snow but not a lot like in winter. The best time to climb it hands-down is May in my opinion. It all kind of depends on how much snow pack there was that year, so it will vary from year to year as well.
hey! im looking to do to HD third week of october, did u need a wilderness pass to get into the park during off season? thanks in advance for the info!
Hi Carmen! Half Dome permits are required right now, but according to the NP's website they will be no longer required after Columbus Day (Oct 11th). I went in November 2020. If you want to camp in Little Yosemite Valley, which is not necessary, but I think much more fun, you can fill out a self-issue permit at the Visitors' Center for free. You should be snow-free this time of year. Have fun!
What about may, is it still self-permit or are the reservations in effect? I ask because I know reservations are available in May, but also the cables aren't up yet. For a foreigner it's super confusing working out all the rules and permits!
@@benja_mint You should always check the NP website because they do change the rules periodically. For example, COVID resulted in a permit system just to enter the park. But as general rule, when the cables are up, you need a Half Dome permit to go past the subdome section, whether you camp or not. As a separate issue, if you choose to camp in Little Yosemite Valley, which most people would not need to do, you need a Wilderness Permit. I camped because 1) in November I had less daylight, and because I wanted to make a video, I wanted to film all the shots in daylight, and 2) if there is snow on the route, you want to be off the subdome in the morning, before the sun turns it to slush, and your crampon points won't 'bite.' Every year snow levels in May are different, but at that time of the year it will be mostly 'compacted' snow, which is much easier to manage than fresh powder snow. You can check the live webcams to get an idea for what conditions are like: www.nps.gov/yose/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm
He mentioned he made another video specifically about this topic, but without having seen it I would answer that it's probably "better safe than sorry" with the crampons. (So early in the morning there could have been a patch of ice while ascending on the cable and then approach shoes just wouldn't cut it)
Hey Joey do crampons get damaged or worn out when climbing on rock like that? And do they provide substantially more traction than shoes would in these conditions? Great vid!
Hi George, crampons are surprising rugged when used on mixed terrain. You can certainly go without them but a slip on the subdome in snowy conditions is for me too great a risk for me. Crampons aide in traction on snow, so I use them near exposed cliff faces and I recommend anyone attempting the subdome in similar conditions to at least bring some form of traction devices. Thank you and happy trails!
@@summitsparrow thanks for the replies and excellent in depth analysis! As I am an inexperienced novice I think I will mitigate my risk by avoiding adverse conditions for now.
Crampons on granite- Bad Idea. Hiking cables down, bad idea. Not wearing grippy gloves, bad idea. Going it alone, bad idea. We did this hike regular season- 2019. It was beautiful and not very difficult IMO. I did not care for the sub dome section. The very next day, sadly another hiker named Danielle Burnette slipped on the final ascent and fell 500 feet. We saw the recovery chopper in the valley. It was very sobering. These YTube people in search for endless views get caught up in being famous. They truly don't realize that it only takes one slip and game over. Danielle was smart and even had a harness, but sadly she was not clipped on to the cable at the time. I think a brief rain cloud settled over the peak and make that granite slippery like ice when she was on a steep section. IT happens quickly and often up there. It almost happened to us. We were clipped on though mostly the entire time. Ironically, they discourage this safety measure. It's narrow between the two cables and people come back down them too so it gets sketchy...add rain and it's a disaster- lottery or no lottery.
Thank you for your concern. I've climbed the cables about 20-30 times so far, and will climb the routes another 20-30 times before I die. Please refer to my video called Half Dome Safety which addresses your questions. Take care and happy trails!
@@summitsparrow I appreciate what you are saying. I use to have a YOLO attitude when I was younger too- looking back I took many chances. I can only speak from my experience. I climbed those cables once. The next day someone lost her life...on the cables. Stay safe.
@@MOAB-UT I used to have that attitude as well when I was young. I do encourage you to articulate your comment in my other video where others can comment on their opinions of safety. Ultimately, we all want to provide the best and safest advice in the adventure community and I created my channel so that others would have the tools they need to enjoy the outdoors with a risk-mitigation, but not a risk-elimination mindset. Thank you again for sharing!
I recall I actually had them on in the beginning but I took them off b/c I was getting hot. I don't really think they are necessary unless it's really cold out.
I actually had gloves on in the beginning but took them off. I honestly don't think gloves are necessary, though, and especially if you're going to be tying and re-tying hitches, they can slow you down. Also I had this "staged" shot (the thumbnail of the video) which I had pre-planned in advance with a complicated tripod/webbing and carabiner assembly and I needed dexterity for that.
why are you using crampons for a low angle slab? yoir ruining your tools and making it significantly more diffocult to ascend. Should try microspikes and sticky rubber.
