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Approach to Half-dome through Sierra Point trail

Original Post
Stuart Grossman · · San Francisco, CA · Joined Oct 2016 · Points: 0

Does anyone have any beta on this? Much appreciated

This is the only information i have gripped.com/news/dean-potte…

Clint Cummins · · Palo Alto, CA · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 1,738
The old (unmarked) Sierra Point trail is the lowest part in the shade - the trail stays in the shade and goes out right to an old railing.
https://www.summitpost.org/sierra-point/160150
https://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,74951
Once the red line goes into the sun, that is the LeConte Gully route on Grizzly Peak, which is 4th class (first ascent in 1869).
https://www.mountainproject.com/route/110610902/leconte-gully
Then Dean Potter scrambled up to and along the ridge and eventually over to the base of Snake Dike.
It might be fun to try if you are fine with soloing 4th class.
Otherwise it would be faster to use a less technical approach to Snake Dike, like his return path which goes between Mt. Broderick and Liberty Cap.
https://www.mountainproject.com/route/105836362/snake-dike

The latest Half Dome "Any Route" FKT (Fastest Known Time) used Dean Potter's descent route and the cables, avoiding all soloing - 2:03 :
https://gripped.com/news/canadian-nick-elson-gets-speed-run-record-half-dome/
https://fastestknowntime.com/route/half-dome-yosemite-ca
Stuart Grossman · · San Francisco, CA · Joined Oct 2016 · Points: 0

Thanks man. Ill still take any more beta on how to access the correct path up the gully

Clint Cummins · · Palo Alto, CA · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 1,738

I added a photo to the LeConte Gully page, but since I haven't been up that route, I can't draw an accurate line on it for you.
I agree the path is not obvious, as you would be weaving around bushes and trying to avoid hard or exposed climbing.

It is "mountaineering" type terrain (3rd and 4th class) where you are making a lot of educated guesses about which way to go, and you will likely have to descend back down the same thing.
If you haven't done a lot of that before, it would be wise to do some easier mountaineering first.
Geoff Lighthall · · Mountain View, CA · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 0

THis is a little off subject, but does anybody know how the temperatures on the RNWF are when the valley is baking hot.  Like this week.  
I'm hoping that with the elevation and shade, things are a bit cooler, but don't want to get totally baked.
thanks

Clint Cummins · · Palo Alto, CA · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 1,738
GeoffL wrote: THis is a little off subject, but does anybody know how the temperatures on the RNWF are when the valley is baking hot.  Like this week.  
I'm hoping that with the elevation and shade, things are a bit cooler, but don't want to get totally baked.

On the NOAA site, you can get a point forecast.

Currently it shows forecast highs 86 degrees for the valley floor (4200'), and 74 degrees for the base of the RNWF (6365').
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-119.5342969894409&lat=37.74594664574012#.XQK3g1VKiUk
The NW Face also stays in the shade until mid to late afternoon.
So you should be fine on the climb.
Will be a long hot walk to get there, or a battle up the slabs.
Geoff Lighthall · · Mountain View, CA · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 0

Thanks so much for the information!

Tony Lobay · · San Carlos · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 958

There is also some kind of other route up from Mirror lake called skywalk. supertopo.com/climbers-foru…

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northern California
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