Yosemite National Park has been a hotspot for adventurers, and my friends and I decided to join them. Our only goal going in was to summit Half Dome. In the summer season, the hike to Half Dome has a rope bridge as an additional safety measure and to hike it, a permit won in a lottery system is needed. Our original plan was to go right before the summer school semester and the park’s summer season. We planned to use a climbing harness with carabiners to clip ourselves into the rope bridge as a safety measure. Additionally, we would be taking out the luck factor for all of us to win a permit on the same day thus giving us free access to Half Dome. The plan was foolproof.  

Until… 

May 1^st of 2024, winter reared its ugly head over Half Dome. Two feet of snow had made the last half mile with the rope bridge nearly impossible to hike. The national park rangers said that “we STRONGLY suggest that you do not hike Half Dome due the snowstorms effect on the peak.” The plan was not foolproof, and we were officially fools.  

Determined to make the most out of our trip, we explored additional trails belonging to Yosemite. According to AllTrails, an app with trail info curated by and for hikers, the Upper Yosemite Falls was a hard 6.6-mile round trip that had promised breath taking views of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley. 

Another trail, Yosemite Point, was an additional mile above the top of the falls with a clearer and less populated viewpoint. With 3,700 feet of elevation gain and an average completion time of a little over six hours, our replacement hike for Half Dome was official.  

Our journey began early in the morning after a short 9:00 AM warning from the park rangers. With each passing mile, our pace slowed to a measly crawl. We took frequent breaks to catch our breath and refuel on trail snacks. This hike was exhausting but the promise of the view kept us going.  

The sound of Yosemite Falls grew louder with every step. Less than a quarter mile to the top, the mist from the falls kissed our faces. With every switchback paired with a clearing in the trees you could watch the falls launch hundreds of gallons of water into the valley below.  

When we made it to the top, we saw a man set up a tripod recording him and his partner’s first reaction of the falls. We watched as they looked each other in the eyes with so much love and appreciation. While leaning on a rock in a misty abyss, I rested my eyes briefly. Moments later I heard the man say, “would you marry me?” In awe my friends and I clapped for them as his now fiancé screamed yes. I felt happy for them and myself knowing that we were only a mile away from an epic view.  

We continued over a bridge crossing Yosemite Creek. This section of the park felt quieter. The crowds thinned and the mummers of others softened until the only sound was the pitter-patter of our footsteps in the thin layer of snow. 

We reached Yosemite Point, and the view was beyond our imagination. Standing there, we had a cleareyed view of Half Dome and the vast Yosemite Valley. Half Dome’s flat granite face glistened in the sunlight. We jokingly said that the snow did not look like a problem, and that we could have hiked it. 

It was not the up-close encounter we had envisioned, but we appreciated the privilege to experience every part of this trip. We lingered at Yosemite Point, savoring every moment together. We walked away with a renewed sense of appreciation for the ability to be here and do things that challenge us.