This cache sight is not exactly under the ladder going up Half Dome. In fact it is a mountain hump away from the bottom of the ladder. I chose this spot because it gives you a great view of the climbers, the ladder, and great north, south, west, and east views of the glorious mountains and canyons of the area.
Liberty Cap (Click Photo to Enlarge.)
Where To Start: Walk 3/4 a mile from Curry Village or take the Yosemite free shuttle to the Happy Isles bus stop. Walk along the road and turn right after crossing the Happy Isles Bridge.
The Trail: The trail is well marked. In this adventure you will go up the Mist Trail, reach Vernal Falls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world and pass powerful Nevada Falls. When you get to the restroom at Nevada Falls, spend the extra time it takes to visit the falls even though they are off the trail a little bit. It's worth the time you spend to do it.
Kolly Wobbels is Ready for the Last Assault.
Set Your Start Coordinates: Before you do anything else, record the coordinates of where you are starting from.
Bring Food and Plenty and Water :
Warning : This is considered a strenuous hike. Remember that your GPS machine gives you distances in croms (As the crow flies). Taking into account the twists and turns of the trail, the distance for this hike is approximately 7.4 miles each way.
Half Dome, Here we Come! (Click to Enlarge)
This cache site is where helicopters land to rescue injured hikers or to embark search and resuce teams for lost hikers. Helicopters landed here twice the weekend we were here. One to carry out a person who broke her ankle, and the other to search and rescue a lady who unwillingly spent the night in the wilderness on the same day that the snow and hail hit the area.
Kolly Wobbels at the Cache Site.
There were clouds on the day we took these photos. The day after, hikers were caught on top of Half Dome when hail and snow suddenly hit the area. Temperatures were very low and the cables were freezing cold and slippery.
One group of three adults tied each other together before starting their descent. Two held on tight while the third one moved. Only one moved at a time. The cables were so slippery that when one moved a few feet, the next one had to move. They could not stop the downward movement because the cables were very slippery. They could only control how many moved at the same time. I don't know if this is a good idea or not. You should never let yourself get caught up there in bad weather or during thunder and lightening.
One of the Views from the Cache Site. (Click to Enlarge.)
Set Your Start Coordinates: Before you do anything else, record the coordinates of where you are starting from.
Bring Food and Plenty of Water:
Anyone who gets this far should be proud.
Another View from the Cache Site(Click Photo to Enlarge.)
47Tyrone47 Coming Down from the Top (Click Photo to Enlarge.)
To Get Credit For This Geocache, answer the following questions: (After you send your answers, go ahead and log your find.)
- 1. Looking over the north edge of the cache sight, there is a tree that appears to be looking back at you. What makes it look like it is looking back at you?
- 2. Does that tree appear to be dead or alive?
- 3. What appears to be that tree's biggest deformity?
- 4. Looking towards Half Dome and holding your thumb out in front of you, how big is Half Dome compared to your thumb? (Feel free to use your right thumb, your left thumb, or one of your big toes.)
- 5. What is your elevation starting from the bottom of your feet to the top of your head?
- 6. Is the ground at the coordinates smooth and polished rock, crumbling rock, gravel or dirt?
- 7. What city and state or country are you from?