Half Dome

Half Dome and Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point

The Half Dome ( also Ti -sa- oh in the language of Ahwahnee ) is a 2693 m high mountain in Yosemite National Park in the U.S. state of California. It lies at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley. Since the photographer Ansel Adams in 1927 made ​​known to a wide audience the mountain with its characteristic hemispherical shape on one of his most famous photographs ( Monolith, The Face of Half Dome ), he is the symbol of the National Park and, together with the El Capitan is one of the most photographed dar.

Geology

The Half Dome is composed of granodiorite. The Half Dome granodiorite is a very solid rock, which is hardly permeated by steeply dipping joint sets ( in contrast for example to the Cathedral Peak granodiorite ). Its rounded shape near the summit caused by desquamation. His vertical, the valley facing north-west flank can be explained by a relatively small glacial glacier above the Mirror Lake, which undermined this mountain side by frost shattering and let nachstürzen overhanging parts or the course of a larger, northeast-southwest trending fault or major gap area.

Ascent of Half Dome

Every year, thousands climb to the mountain. The summit of Half Dome can be reached via the normal route with the appropriate condition. For about 25 km of roads and approximately 1500 meters in ascent and descent experienced hikers need eight to twelve hours.

On the last 120 meters of wire ropes allow the less experienced climbers to tackle a slope of up to about 45 ° or 100% on the smooth, non-stepped granodiorite. These 1919 holes already drilled into the rock, vertical supports are inserted into the summer. The wire ropes are held by it on something about waist height. In addition, lying on the rock on the supports wooden planks, which provide the foot hold. In winter props and planks are removed. From a rise in this case, as in rain or thunderstorms, strongly discouraged. By 2007, there were no known fatal accident at the steel cables, since every year several people were killed.

Since early 2010, a registration is necessary for the ascent of the summit, the number of which is limited per day.

The Half Dome can also be mounted on free climbing, several routes on the almost vertical north-west wall or the rounded edges.

More

The Half Dome is used in a stylized form of a variety of companies as a logo, including the producer of mountain sports and outdoor clothing and equipment The North Face.