Tour Yosemite Classic Summits Half Dome And Clouds Rest

Guide

A professional, knowledgeable, certified Yosemite hiking guide

Others

Top-of-the-line tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use) – or bring your own. Use of trekking poles National park backcountry camping permits Bear cannisters for food storage Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and satellite phone You will receive a Lifetime Hiking Membership entitling you, your spouse and kids to a lifetime discount of 10% off any Wildland Trekking hiking trip after your first one!

Meals

All meals are included from dinner on Day 1 through lunch on the last day

Accommodation

TENT CAMPING Sleeping on backpacking trips is in premier 1-person, 2-person or 4-person backcountry tents. Solo travelers, and anyone else who requests it, are issued single tents. Top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and synthetic-fill sleeping bags (professionally laundered after every trip) are also provided.

Not included:

Others

Clothes, raingear, leather gloves (for the cables on Half Dome) and footwear Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost) Mandatory 5% National Park Fee (added at time of booking and passed through directly to the National Park Service)

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Optional

Other activities and services are not included.

Transport

Transport not included.

Flights

Flights are not included.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1

This Yosemite hiking adventure begins with rendezvous in Yosemite Valley on the patio of Curry Village in front of the Yosemite Mountain Shop at 6PM on Day 1. The Mountain shop is located on the street-facing side of the Curry Village Pavilion (closest to the parking lot). You will easily spot your guide waiting for you in a Wildland Trekking hat. We’ll conduct an orientation meeting, after which we’ll get settled in the Backpackers Camp a stone’s throw away from majestic Tenaya Creek and under the spectacular domes and cliffs of Yosemite Valley. We’ll enjoy dinner either at Curry Village or in camp.
Day 2 Day 2
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2

Hiking Mileage: 8.8 miles

Elevation Gain: 2100 feet

Elevation Loss: 1260 feet

We begin our trek at the Cathedral Lakes trailhead in Tuolumne Meadows and quickly meet up with the famous John Muir Trail. The trail climbs steadily before reaching a beautiful mountain lake with beautiful views of the Yosemite high country. We will pause for a much deserved break and trail lunch prepared by your guide. Our ascent continues after lunch as we skirt the east side of a towering, jagged alpine peak with a stunning, prominent crest directly to our left. After a few more miles, we make our camp at on the shores of another pristine mountain lake. Alpenglow and stupendous sunset views entertain us as we enjoy a well-deserved gourmet dinner. We go to sleep early knowing we are perfectly situated for an early morning start on our ascent to the summit of Clouds Rest tomorrow!
Day 3 Day 3
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3

Hiking Mileage: 7.75 miles

Elevation Gain: 1400 feet

Elevation Loss: 3640 feet

Today we will rise early for an alpine start on Clouds Rest. A steady, but not too strenuous climb of 1000 feet in a little over 2 miles brings us to the summit at 9926 feet above sea level. The views from the summit of this Classic Yosemite Peak are an outstanding 360 degree view of the surrounding Sierra Nevada. One can see many of Yosemite’s most famous features including: the Quarter Domes, Mount Hoffmann, Vogelsang Peak, and the Cathedral Range. Looking straight down you can see Tenaya Creek, 5000 feet below! The trek down from Clouds Rest is a steep winding descent to Sunrise Creek; along the way stunning views of Half Dome with El Capitan in the distance are framed by massive ancient Junipers. An elevation loss of about 3600 vertical feet leads us to our forested campsite along the banks of bubbling Sunrise Creek.
Day 4 Day 4
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4

Hiking Mileage: 4.5 miles

Elevation Gain: 2100 feet

Elevation Loss: 2100 feet

We won’t break camp today so we can climb Half Dome with only light packs. The trek to the summit of Half Dome at 8,839 feet is one of the most exciting “hikes” around! After following an increasingly steep and rocky path, the last 400 feet to the summit are via a set of cables, allowing access to this “perfectly inaccessible peak”! Views from the top of Yosemite’s most iconic summit encompass all of Yosemite Valley and much of the high country. Tonight, after returning the way we came, we will relax around the fire next to a rushing creek and celebrate our achievements in the high country!

Please Note: the ascent of Half Dome involves climbing a section called “the cables,” which is a very steep and exposed part of our hike. The National Park Service has installed a pair of cables to use as hand rails, but it is still a physically and psychologically demanding climb. Some of the objective hazards also include mishaps by other hikers, such as people slipping or dropping items. This climb isn’t required to do the trip, but it is required to reach the top of Half Dome.
Day 5 Day 5
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5

Hiking Mileage: 6.9 miles

Elevation Gain: 875 feet

Elevation Loss: 3915 feet

The final day’s hike begins with a descent to Little Yosemite Valley and then passes through one of Yosemite’s most magnificent areas: the Mist Trail. Paralleling the Merced River as it makes its way down the glacially carved canyon, the trail passes the Silver Apron, Emerald Pool and Nevada Fall before descending through the highlight of the trail and its namesake: the soaking mists of Vernal Fall. Rain gear is a good idea as rainbows appear and disappear among the wind-blown sheets of spray as we descend the steep rocky steps to a bridge over the Merced River. A mile further, we can soak our hot, tired feet in the cool waters of the Merced at the trail’s end at Happy Isles and celebrate a successful hike.

Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes.

5 days tour

Yosemite Classic Summits Half Dome And Clouds Rest

This tour includes:

Not included:

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Itinerary of your trip Yosemite Classic Summits Half Dome And Clouds Rest

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

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