It was the hardest, most extreme thing we have ever done. We shared a fantastic life experience with the people we care about the most. It was incredible and unbelievable. We took it to the limit! Fifteen hours of hiking. 5:15am to 8:15pm. Over 18 miles. We started and finished our hike with the aid of flashlights and headlamps. An insanely physical and mentally challenging day. I still can’t believe we did it.
After months of anticipation, training and waiting, we made our way to Yosemite on Monday in preparation for our Wednesday Half Dome hike. This hike is noted as the only “extremely strenuous” day hike in Yosemite National Park. Bro John and Sharri, sister Anne Marie and Joe along with our friends Marie and Ron, all arrived on Monday. Team Vandenbusch came Tuesday. John also had a couple of his friends coming along for the hike. All in all we had 12 people going on the hike.
Up EARLY on Wednesday, alarm goes off at 4am and we are on the way at 5:15. Pitch black if not for our flashlights and headlamps. We made our way a half mile or so to the trail head, gathered for a quick prayer and good words, then started our hike in earnest. We had hiked to Vernal Fall bridge the day before so we knew the way. By the time we got to the Vernal Fall bridge the sky was getting brighter. We needed the light to make our way up the mist trail, hundreds upon hundreds of rocky steps zig zagging its way up the side of the falls, we cross a bridge at the top of Vernal Fall and continued zig zagging up the other side of the river and up to the top of Nevada Fall. A real tough climb to get this far!
Up a little further and then we have a short descent into Little Yosemite Valley. Flat (thank God) and sandy trail for a mile or so. From here you can look left and see the back side of Half Dome. At some point we start making our way up what seemed like endless switchbacks, working our way around to the back side of Half Dome.
Now, believe me, all the while we are keeping hydrated, taking much needed and much appreciated mini breaks where we rested and ate some healthy snacks. Eventually the faster folks moved ahead and our party stretched out. Already hiking 6 hours, we finally came around the bend and were able to see the final stretch. 
Sub Dome and Half Dome. YIKES! We’re going up there?! The Sub Dome steps, cut into the granite, were estimated to be 800 or more. Up Up UP we went, the steepness of sub-dome was frightening. Unreal! At one point the stairs just end and we scramble up the hard granite to the top of sub-dome and get our first full look at the infamous cables. An 800 foot pair of cables that you use to pull yourself up. A 2×4 every ten to fifteen feet gives you something to rest on and prepare to pull yourself to the next.
I’m not kidding when I say that the cables are intimidating. I really wouldn’t want my loved ones doing this, but here I am with my wife, brother, sister and all our best friends, ready to do something that is beyond the outer edge of anything I would normally do. 
Many people (and rightfully so) only go this far. The final 400 feet of elevation is up a 45 degree angle with 2000 foot drops down either side. Not for the faint of heart or anyone who has a fear of heights. Once we got to the base of the cables there wasn’t any talk of not doing the rest. We just went for it. Thinking back now, it seemed like I was in some sort of adrenaline induced daze. The anxiety of the struggle up the cables was reduced because Anne Marie was ahead of us on the way up AND we passed brother John who was already coming down.
After about 30 minutes up the cables the granite leveled off somewhat and we were on the top! Success!! Looked like the surface of the moon up there. Not much to look at except for the 360 degree views of Yosemite. We really didn’t explore the top too much. We ate some food and rested a bit, took a few of the mandatory Half Dome pics and then started our way down.
The way down the cables was easier physically, just get a good firm grip on those cables and DON”T LET GO! The granite is somewhat slippery so if you couldn’t side step your way down to the next 2×4, you would pretty much slide down while holding on for dear life. I tried various techniques, the “facing down and walking”, the “holding on to one cable and side stepping” down, or “hold on to both cables and come down backward” . I think the last was the best for me. About midway down a good gust of wind blew and took the hat right off my head. It sailed pretty far away and down into the valley below. I got a good look as it floated out of sight. Finally safe (ha) and sound at the base of the cables, we gathered our gear and ever so slowly worked our way down the granite steps of sub dome. We still had a super adrenaline rush going. All excited but glad to be heading back.
Needless to say, the adrenaline rush subsided and the walk home became a challenge. The walk down seemed further than the walk up. Were there really this many switchbacks down to Little Yosemite Valley? The walk to the “log near the river” where we took our morning break seemed to take forever. We had decided before hand to take the Mist Trail up and the John Muir Trail back. 
It would save our knees and feet by not have to go back down 700 steps. The down side of taking the John Muir trail was that it was a longer route back home. One guide book mentions the “endless switchbacks” on the trail. They weren’t joking! Although a beautiful walk down, it seemed to take forever. The scary thing about this way home was that we weren’t really familiar with the trail and the sun was beginning to set. Never thought those switchbacks would end!! Eventually we made our way down to the Vernal Fall 
bridge (familiar territory!!) and the final stretch back to Curry Village. It was around this time that we had to revert to flashlights. No way would I have ever thought that we would be hiking home in the dark, but we were. We walked into camp around 8:15pm, the last of the original 12 to arrive back at base camp. John was home 3 hours before us! We tore off our packs and hit the showers. Took a GREAT feeling shower, except that we were still on our feet! Then it was time to RELAX, have a cold beverage (that may have been before the shower!) , a bite to eat, and re-live our crazy amazing day.
This hike started out as a way that Barb could put the year of cancer treatment behind her. I think can safely say that Barb has beaten cancer’s ass yet again. We were blessed to be able to do this hike and share the acccomplishment with our family and friends. Before the hike when we prayed at the trail head, we mentioned our brother Mike Flaherty, who had passed away, but who was with us in spirit. There was plenty of time to think about plenty of things on a 15 hour hike. At the top of Half Dome, Barb dedicated the hike to our friend Wally, who had passed away earlier in the month.
Finally, it was great to have our friends meet my family, and have my family do a most memorable hike with our best freinds.
We got in the last of our Half Dome preps today with a power walk up Mission Peak. Just Barbie and me. Hit the trail close to 9am and never looked back. We were both using “trekking poles” (Barb bought a new pair) and both sporting new hiking boots. Barb still trying to find the perfect fit returned her 3rd pair for exchange (yay REI!!) One thing that Rick Deutsch mentioned at the Half Dome Pep Talk last week that the downhill from Half Dome is what gets most people. “You have to have a bigger toe box so your toes don’t take a beating” A light bulb moment for me! No wonder why I was always so sore after those Mission Peak downhills. No wonder my “dogs were barkin” after every hike. I NEEDED A BIGGER BOOT!!!! Well Gall dung and pass the potatoes. I bought a bigger boot and and really worked well for me. The dogs were still barking but not as loud! We made decent time up to the peak, shared a pb&j and a couple of apples. And took a self portrait. Back down the way we came, testing out the poles on the downhill. They were a life saver. Like a billy goat on the way up and like spider man on the way down. That and the new boots not hurting the feet made for a great hike. Thats not to say it wasn’t a tough one. They are all tough.
