A Hiker’s Guide to Half Dome in Yosemite National Park
Low Impact Tips for Hiking Half Dome By John P. DeGrazio Half Dome is the most popular hike in Yosemite National Park and one of the most sought after adventures on the planet. The demand for this hike is so great that the National Park Service began implementing a permit lottery system in 2011 to reduce extreme overcrowding […]
Half Dome Permit Lottery 2015
Apply for Half Dome Permits March 1-31, 2015 By John P. DeGrazio Today is the first day to apply for the Half Dome permit lottery which will run from 12am PST on March 1 to 11:59pm PDT on March 31. If you are planning on hiking to the summit of Half Dome on any day […]
#63 On Top of Half Dome at 70 Years Old
Guiding a 70th Celebration On Top of Half Dome by John P. DeGrazio “What is the age of the oldest person you’ve ever guided up Half Dome?” I often get this question, and here’s the answer I always tell. “Let me tell you a little story about a man named Stanley Kowalczyk.” Stanley Kowalczyk has […]
Safety Tip #2 from the Trails of Yosemite
Stow Your Hiking Poles Below the Half Dome Cables By John P. DeGrazio Yesterday I was stabbed on Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. Seriously, I was stabbed by another hiker while ascending the Half Dome cables. Do you know what it feels like to be stabbed? My whole life flashed before my eyes, then […]
Safety Tips from the Trails of Yosemite
Watch Your Step By John P. DeGrazio When hiking on granite or any other potentially slippery trail, it’s always best to cover as much surface area as you can with every step. This means that you should basically cover as much ground with your boot as possible. Sometimes you may be hiking on narrow steps […]