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Half Dome and Cloud's Rest Summit

Hiking/Trekking in California with Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides, Inc.

Highlights

  • Expert guides with years of experience leading hikers off-trail
  • Summit Cloud's Rest and Half Dome
  • Backpack through the beautiful Tuolumne backcountry
  • Perfect long weekend getaway
  • Experience two waterfalls; Nevada Falls and Vernal Falls
  • Stunning views of Yosemite Valley
  • Gourmet backcountry cooking

Full Description

This trip takes hikers to the summits of two of the most spectacular summits in Yosemite National Park.

We'll start this 4-day adventure by staying the first night in scenic Yosemite Valley at the Curry Village tent cabins. The next morning we'll get up early for a shuttle through Yosemite Valley past El Capitan to Tenaya Lake, where we'll start backpacking through the beautiful Tuolumne backcountry. The next day we'll travel up to the summit of Clouds Rest were we'll have one of the most spectacular views of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley. After lunch we'll continue our journey to camp at Sunrise Creek.

On our trek we will explore the Tuolumne back country, backpack over the summit of Clouds Rest (9,926'), climb to the summit of Half Dome (8,836'), travel down a section of the John Muir Trail and see breathtaking waterfalls all in a long weekend format!

After a relaxing night of stargazing and good food, we'll get an alpine start to begin our summit of Yosemite's crown jewel, Half Dome. We'll stash our packs along the trail and summit with the bare necessities. After taking in the beauty of Half Dome's summit and enjoying a light snack, we'll come back down to our packs, grab our gear and hike down into Yosemite Valley. We'll be traveling down the famous and historic John Muir Trail. Along the way we'll we will pass two breathtaking waterfalls—Nevada Falls and Vernal Falls.

For travelers short on time who want to pack in a solid smattering of all Yosemite has to offer, this long-weekend format is the ticket.

Accommodations: First night in the Curry Village tent cabins (shared occupancy) followed by two nights camping in tents.

Grade: Moderate: Mostly on-trail backpacking on uneven terrain with modest to difficult climbs. These trips are up to five days in duration and the commitment level varies by trip. The cable route is the hiking trail to the summit of Half Dome. It gets its name from the cables put in place to assist hikers with the steep and smooth nature of the granite dome. Although this seems intimidating, people generally have an easy time with it.

Equipment: SYMG can supply all needed personal (backpacks, sleeping bags, ground pads, tents) and group camping equipment if requested on the registration form. There is no additional charge for this service. You may print from our web page a detailed gear list and directions.

Meals: Meals begin with lunch the first day and are provided through breakfast and trail snacks the last day.  Our "Backcountry Gourmet" meals have been acclaimed in Sunset Magazine.

Preparation: We recommend increasing your exercise routine in the month prior to the trip to increase your cardiovascular/aerobic ability.  Hiking, with a backpack, preferably on hills and off pavement is excellent practice.

Group Size: 2-7 participants with 1 guide. Larger (up to 13 people) private group dates can be arranged.

Includes:

  • Shared accommodations at Curry Village
  • Shuttle from Curry Village to Tuolumne
  • Meals
  • Backpacking gear
  • Group gear (bear cans, stoves first aid, etc.)
  • Permit and guide(s)

Excludes:

  • Personal gear
  • Tips for guides (10-20% of trip fee)
  • Transportation
  • Single occupancy
  • Trip cancellation insurance

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1

Check-in for Curry Village is at 5pm. After dinner on your own at 7:00pm you will meet your guide in front of the Yosemite Mountain Shop in Curry Village to go over the trip's itinerary and to cover any last minute details and questions.

Day 2

After breakfast on your own you will meet your guide in front of the Yosemite Mountain Shop in Curry Village at 7:30am. We'll leave our cars here in the parking lot of Curry Village and take a shuttle to Tuolumne to the Sunrise trailhead at Tenaya Lake (8,140'). The shuttle takes about an hour to reach our destination. We'll hike in about 4 miles to the Tenaya Creek (8,800') area for our first night's camp.

Day 3

Today will start our day with a 4-mile hike to summit of Clouds Rest (9,926'). From the summit you will have incredible views of Half Dome, Yosemite Valley and the Tuolumne backcountry. After enjoying our lunch on the summit we will continue another 3.5 miles to our camp on Sunrise Creek (7,210').

Day 4

After an early breakfast will start up Half Dome (8,836') for a summit attempt of Yosemite's crown jewel. We'll stash our packs along the trail and hike up with just the necessities. After taking in the beauty of Half Dome's summit, we'll come back down to our packs, grab our stuff and hike all the way to Yosemite Valley (4,035') on the John Muir Trail (12 miles). We will have breathtaking views of the Nevada and Vernal waterfalls and enjoy our lunches along the Merced River. We will end our trip back at Curry Village in the parking lot were we left our cars late afternoon.

About The Operator:

Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides, Inc.

Headquarters:

Bass Lake, California

Established:

January 1991

Voted by National Geographic Advenutre Magazine in 2007-2009 "Best Outfitter  Earth" and the "Best Adventure Travel Company," Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides has shown thousands of people the beauty of the mountains and wild places in Yosemite National Park, the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness, Sequoia & Kings Canyon Nat'l Parks, and the Eastern Sierra region. SYMG is a leader in the active travel and mountain guiding world, providing carefully planned and operated trips and programs in the most spectacular Wilderness areas ofCalifornia. Programs and courses include hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, and fly fishing; and haven't changed much over the years.

There's a reason for this. The style of trip offered, the locations and times of the year in which the trips or courses run, the types of meals chosen, itineraries, and your guides; all contribute to the quality of your experience. Our trips are highlighted in the following pages. Visit Our Trips for daily itineraries, gear lists, and reviews. Visit Reservations for availability and registration. Or, call our office and talk with us. We look forward to speaking with you, and meeting you soon.

Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides, Inc operates under special use permits in Sierra National Forest, Inyo National Forest, Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park, and Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks and is a bonded and licensed fly fishing guide service with the CA Department of Fish and Game. All SYMG rock courses are instructed by certified PCGI instructors and AMGA trained guides. SYMG is also a proud member of Trout Unlimited, the Worldwide Outfitters and Guides Association, and the Sierra Club.