August 2002
Yosemite National Park, atop Half Dome

Half Dome is 2693 meters in altitude.
Only one of us made it, me, to the top of Half Dome and the end of the 8.1 mile Mist Trail.  It took me 5 hours to get from where the three of us parked to the top of the dome.  The air got
thinner as we ascended in altitude.
Although I was exhausted after reaching the top, from the fact that virtually the entire 8.1 mile journey is uphill, I got back to the car in about 3.5 hours because getting back to the car was
all downhill.  

Left: The last leg of the journey consists of scaling about a 30 degree grade where one grabs these metal cables.  It looks scarey and difficult from the bottom before you start but as long
as you have a minimal amount of forearm strength it quite easy.  You just kind of lean back as you walk up the side of Half Dome.  Getting down one justs walks backwards

Right: And in the words of Captain James T. Kirk, "Make risk your business."