It took us until noon or so to get to the top, and we got off the trail and into my car at 1820 or so, quite exhausted. Water management on this hike is critical if you're not in top shape; we cut it close and I still consumed 5 liters or so. (Had I left the camera, GPS, first aid kit, food, batteries, socks, etc all behind and taken a lighter pack I could probably have done it with 3L or so of water.)
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John
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random rock face
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Bridal Vail(sp) Falls
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random human masses around the base of the falls
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exploring
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img 5948
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family enjoying the falls
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rafters on the river
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river
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river
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falls and river
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falls and river
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jumping off the bridge
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jumping off the bridge
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jumping off the bridge
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jumping off the bridge
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this landing looked like it hurt
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the meadow
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falls through trees (nice contrast range, dummy)
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falls
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weather
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valley
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random photographer in the meadow
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large
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valley
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oops
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rafters
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neat tree
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sunset from outside the park where we flew in a parking lot for a while
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first image from the Half Dome hike (1.5 hours after we got on the trail, and 3 hours after we got up)
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neat
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Gil and John
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Peter
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Peter
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neat
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neat
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Peter and John
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top of Half Dome
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nice place for a nap
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crazy Frenchies with their stuffed animal
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Peter, blinding spy satellites
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Peter, displaying gut
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Peter, blinding more spy satellites
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John, resting with unshod feet
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over the edge
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critters
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Gil, leaving a voicemail
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point
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critter going for Gil's bag
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gone
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random folks on top
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Gil, contemplating the view
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a hat someone left
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looking away from the Valley
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neat people up at the top
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woman from Stockton on the rock point
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leaning over the edge (~2000 feet down)
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woman from Stockton inching her way back in
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neat couple getting their picture taken
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neat couple
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playful
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and from the other angle
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Peter, modeling what a summer of In-N-Out Burgers will do for your tummy
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Peter
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looking down, with Peter's foot on the left
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Peter
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Peter
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Peter
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Peter
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John
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John
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John
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Gil, about to head down
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the marmut? that was exploring around up top
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cables going down
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cables
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cables (note the gloves)
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a view to the side showing the angle
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don't fall
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people working their way up
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cables
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going down
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cables (I traversed off to the side a few feet with a bare end of cable to take this)
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same idea; a shot of John
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don't fall on me, please
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down (with my boot)
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up again
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side view with the cable for perspective
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John
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others
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pile of gloves at the bottom (much recommended. don't use gloves with finger cut-offs)
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serious warning sign
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more folks
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the Half Dome approach from a distance
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videotaping the bears
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momma bear
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momma bear
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momma bear's butt
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momma bear
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momma bear
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cub on the tree at left
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both cubs
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momma bear's butt
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no idea
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bears heading away
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she stood their for a while as we slowly backed away
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and then some of us snapped a last shot and gave them wide berth
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