Tears at the base of Half Dome

Last week I didn't have a column because I missed my deadline. It wasn't anything that I didn't plan to do. Rather, I was on a brief vacation with the family to Yosemite.

Our trip to Yosemite, while relaxing, really was about a very big goal — get to the summit of Half Dome.

How did we come up with such a grand goal? Huell Howser of the "California's Gold" show inspired us. Mr. Howser, who came to Lodi recently, did a program on Yosemite and this hike and that is where we got the initial idea. He made it look so easy with his guide and pack animals.

The overriding reason for the trip, aside from being a family vacation, is that my stepson Kyle is off to college after the summer and we wanted to do something memorable with him before he started this new phase of his life. Well, memorable it was, and unlike Huell and his pack animals, it was not easy.

Now, let me save you some time — I didn't make it to the summit. I did, however, get to spend a great day with my family. I watched my wife and stepson accomplish a magnificent thing because they did get to the summit. I saw my son work hard for a goal and I went further than I ever expected.

If you are not familiar with this hike, let me briefly fill you in. The total trip is 16 to 17 miles, and it takes 10 to 12 hours. The elevation gain is about 4,800 feet to the summit at 8,842 feet above sea level. Now, if the overall elevation gain isn't enough to get you, the elevation gain in the last two miles alone is approximately 1,800 feet. That's right, 1,800 feet in two miles. If you don't have the picture yet, this hike is hard, really hard.

While our trip to Yosemite had a purpose and we all knew about it for months, none of us trained a lick. Since I would not be considered to be in even good shape, I told people that I would go as far as possible with little real expectations. The reality was that I would only go as far as I could get my son Hayden, who is 10, to go. What happened was that he and the others kept me going.

There were six of us in the group that started the hike and five were committed to getting to the summit. Prior to the trip, I had committed to not holding up the rest in that Hayden and I would do what we could but it was understood that we would not keep the others from going on if we could not.

We hit the trail just after 6 a.m. and went about 3 miles by about 9 a.m. We got to the famous Half Dome cables, about 8 miles, just after 1 p.m. Those seven hours were stunningly beautiful and for me, and I believe the rest of our group, very difficult.

Shortly after getting to the cables, we decided we needed to go the rest of the way because the weather was really bad and trying to get up to the summit in bad weather isn't advisable.

For protection against a 30-second or so fall to the valley floor, Hayden and I were tied together and I was clipped to a cable. Ahead of us were my Kyle, his friend and my wife.

After about 200 feet or so, it became very evident that Hayden and I were not going to make it to the top. Neither of us had the strength despite our minds and hearts wanting to get there. The pain was too great for me, and the risk was too great for him.

As Hayden and I turned down, the other three made it and I was so very happy for them. I was happy that my wife could share that moment and accomplishment with her son. I know that it was special because I have seen the pictures.

At the bottom of the cables, Hayden and I both shed some tears. He was disappointed because he had come so far and he so wanted to get to the top. I too was disappointed in that I couldn't make it but more than that I was so proud of him. He is of a generation that is rarely ever told to just put your head down and do something, but in this case he did and I hope he never forgets what he accomplished.

As I told him, we saw things on that day that few will ever see. Also, Half Dome will be there when he is a bit older and we can try again.

We got back to the car at 7:15 pm.

John Johnson, CFA, is a Lodi-based business appraiser. Contact him at john@johnejohnson.com or 369-1451.

Reader Feedback

Whoa Nellie! wrote on Jun 15, 2009 9:38 PM:

" Who knew John had a soft side? Nice article JJ and I echo the thoughts of WTF.

BTW, nice USC jab Patton. And Dogs, how ironic that the aging Grape Bowl that JJ wants to bulldoze could be his best training tool for his next attempt at Half Dome. rofl... "

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patton1 wrote on Jun 15, 2009 4:12 PM:

" Hayden is a wonderful son. Of course he could have made it to the top but them he would to have had to leave his aging father in the dust. Good son that he is, he probably faked being tired as not to embarris his dad! "

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dogs4you wrote on Jun 15, 2009 3:42 PM:

" John, you forgot to say what time you got out of the ER. The best place around here to get those tired old legs of yours in shape is the grape bowl. Try those stairs top to bottom 3-4 times if you can handle it. That`s a tough one to handle. When you can go up and down for a couple of hours, your ready to tackle half dome. Best of luck next time, when the legs give out thats when the mind tells you that you can make it, and you will. "

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JD wrote on Jun 15, 2009 2:50 PM:

" The cables look intimidating, but it's the stairs that kill you. "

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wtf wrote on Jun 15, 2009 1:56 PM:

" John wrote: "Half Dome will be there when he is a bit older and we can try again."

True, and since your son is only ten years old, that will give you, John, some time to get into shape so when you go back, it will be you and Hayden who reach the top. ;) "

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