Re: Half Dome cave/Kings Chair

So, has anyone done it? How did it go? Scary as it looks? Worth the obvious risk?

I'll be trying Half Dome in September, but barring some gung-ho encouragement from this forum, I'll probably chicken (chick-on?) out.

didnt know about that, ill check it out in a few weeks and let you know

It's not scary... at least I didn't think it was a big deal.



and I wish I'd taken a better one... but the lighting is impossible... but ear eye am in der:


I didn't think there was any danger... but that's my take on it.

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The cave itself is not all that scary. After making it up the sub-dome, and the cables, there shouldn't be a problem with the cave. You always will have a personal preference for how close to the edge you want to go. Below are pictures through the "window" of the cave. I'll give a link to the hike album also. Pictures 89-93 are from inside the cave. Half Dome Hike Album August 2011

Nice, especially in the top two photos. I can see almost my entire Snow Creek/Mt. Watkins trip from there.

June 14...ten years ago...my husband and I, accompanied by my 17 year old nephew, hiked up Half Dome. We tried to keep track of him (and keep up with him) along the trail. It was the fastest we have hiked to the top. We looked around for him once we were on top, almost getting worried. He was hanging out in that cave...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/19/2012 02:49PM by hikerchick395.

The cave has a granite "lip" as sort of a barrier to the outside, so it's not really so scary just being in the cave; however, climbing over or leaning over the lip might (and probably should) be a bit intimidating, depending on how you handle heights.
http://www.pbase.com/roberthouse/image/63142132
http://www.pbase.com/roberthouse/image/61298401
http://www.pbase.com/roberthouse/image/63142133

Assuming you want to actually "sit" in the chair or get a good look down and around, I'd suggest having a friend you trust in the cave, with a good grip on a strong belt (or nylon strap or rope around your waist as a harness), especially as you climb over the lip. A slip there would be the end, so there's an extremely good reason to have a backup in case of a slip, regardless of how careful you are. Or, you can just go in the cave and stick your camera out instead...as long as you're behind that lip, it shouldn't be too intimidating.

I thought it was a bit eerie in the cave, having read the book "Shattered Air" not too long before, and remembering the details of what happened as you look right at the places described. But the view is of course amazing, and I was glad I went...if for no other reason than not having to later wish that I'd gone.

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Gary
Yosemite Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/roberthouse/yo