Fatal Fall From Half Dome

How thrilling is the feeling of doing something special even you know it's dangerous. Like a magnet, there is something what pulls you toward doing it anyway.
You want to impress the others or just fit in the group, it's your personal challenge, you only want to experience something extra ordinary or your friends say 'it's a must!'.
Sometimes also I'm captivated by the challenge and I still do stuff I'm not proud of.
Lucky me, I've calmed down quite a bit when I became a mother.


Last weekend, a hiker has fallen to his death while hiking Yosemite's Half Dome.
I didn't know this poor guy and I wasn't there when it happened, but according to his fellow hikers he didn't break any safety rule.
The sudden change of weather brought rain- and hailstorm and made the granite rock very slippery...

I will not criticize the hikers attempting to reach the top of Half Dome. I would also probably give it a try myself if I wouldn't be discouraged to join the crowd climbing up in lines like ants.

I'm really sorry and accidents can happen everywhere. No need to climb mountains for that.

Yet sometimes when I see people on a trail I wonder if they were critical enough about their physical condition. Did they consider that the weather can change, the time of the day or their gear?
How many times I've seen girls struggling on the rocky path in their fancy flip flops. Or what about, considering behavior of my four-year-old, parents who take children to cliff trails?!
People probably forget they are in a natural area and feel safe with all the crowds and rangers at every step.
But still, this is a real stuff!

Even I know how hard it is to realize there is a wilderness out there while standing in the Yosemite Village.

Too bad we have to be reminded again in this horrifying way, that also in a 'civilised' park you still need to obey and respect the nature's power.

Let us all dwell on this unfortunate tragedy!

Yosemite Valley

2 December

I know it is not that smart to go on vacation shortly after moving to a new home. Though it makes also some things easier… for example packing your stuff straight out of the moving boxes.
To be honest I’m not in mood going for vacation at all. There is still so much to do here. And our new home is so lovely. Anyway we pack and go.
We hope to enjoy some snow despite we know you never get much of it in the Yosemite Valley, our today’s destination. And the sky is cloudless as usual.

There is a half-mile detour around Highway 140 in the Merced River Canyon just few miles before the park entrance. Not because of the snow but there is a huge rockslide. Looking at the mass of rocks, dirt and boulders we consider our self lucky not driving here last spring when it all fell down.

Driving through the valley Rob spots a wolf at a forest path but this is most probably a coyote since there are no wolves in this park.

I’m not much impressed by the Lodge we are staying at. Do I have such high expectations or am I spoiled by our comfy tent? ;-
) This room is really not clean. Just look at Maarten’s socks!

Even there is indeed no snow the atmosphere is wintry, people are friendly and all in the holiday mood: the staff and the guests wear the Santa hats and holiday sweaters, the trees are lighted…

3 December

No snow means more opportunities for hikes! And because it is winter and off season we can enjoy the valley and especially the trails with no crowds. That’s why we dare to hit the very popular Mist trail to the Vernal Fall.

As you would expect Maarten is looking for his ‘snuggli’ at first. And the reality is hard. There is not any. Luckily there is a group of school girls on the trail whom Maarten tries to impress. He is almost running up the rock stairs to the top of the fall.


We have to watch him all the time since the steep trail is quite next the waterfall wall. Luckily there is no mist this time of the year so the stairs are not slippery.
It is pretty cold today.

The waterfall is partly frozen and so is the Emerald Pool with Silver Apron just upstream from the waterfall. I wish we can continue to the Nevada Fall we see in the background of the he Emerald Pool. But this would be far too much for our little hiker even he is doing so great.

4 December

The weather forecast promises rain and snow for the end of the week. Who knows we may experience the valley with some white décor.
This morning starts with clouds and some rain. I feel guilty I was complaining about the blue sky.

The views of the valley from the trail are still beautiful even with the grey sky.
On our trip uphill to the Old Inspiration Point Rob sense we are followed by ‘someone’. As usual we encounter some mule deer but any bears like the many summer visitors.

What once used to be considered one of Yosemite’s scenic highlights is now a quiet and desolated place. Present times the views from the Inspiration Point are very much obscured by trees and brush.

It seems Rob’s sense was righ. Is this really the bear scat (poop) what we see everywhere?


5 December

Any snow today either. It means that the Glacier Point Road is still open despite the winter time. It takes an hour drive from the valley.

The place is even more amazing than all the travel guides suggest. Can you imagine a hotel at such a place like that? There used to be two beautiful houses but they both burned to the ground in July 1969.
I believe we are lucky that the National Park Service decided to reduce development of this place so everyone can enjoy these stunning views.

This is the third day of our vacation and as we always say the third day is the ‘crisis day’ in ones physical performance. I don’t know if this is true but Maarten’s behavior today confirms it for sure. Even the today’s trip is such an easy short level walk through beautiful forest it is so difficult to keep Maarten moving forward. I realize I can forget about the Sentinel Dome.


As we approach the Taft Point we meet another hikers and the friendly lady shouts out in fear when she sees Maarten running in the direction of the fissures. We were already warned it’s not for kids and for those with acrophobia either. Maarten is not allowed to do a step by himself. Most of the overlooks at Taft Point have no railings and than you have the five fissures.










Those are straight down cracks in the granite beneath you that offer incredible views of the Valley. I’m still a little dizzy thinking of this scary yet magical place. Even despite the sturdy railings at the ‘safest edge’ of Profile Cliff I do not feel safe at all.





And I’m absolutely not happy seeing Rob with Maarten up there.

Believe me I’m relieved only when we finally leave this place even though this was indeed the most beautiful hike of our vacation.