We're supposed to be doing packs tonight, but of course, Doug is nowhere to be seen.
That's the way it always is with him, though.
But what more can you expect out of a homeless guy who can't deal with ANY responsibility?
At least he still goes hiking and makes it.
Unlike all my other friends, who always end up saying,
"Uggg. I don't mind walking flatland with you, but don't call me for any more of these uphill hikes, Jou."

So I quit calling them.
What else can I do?

Two years ago when we went, Doug didn't make it up the dome.
He made it up the sub-dome, but the cables were too much for him.
He did have bald shoes, so I didn't push him, but I'd have gone even if I had to do that last bit barefoot.

Well, tomorrow night we leave.
We leave about 3 am.
It's about a 3-1/2 hour drive and we can't pick up our permits until 8 am so we stop and get breakfast along the way.
That way we get there between 7 - 7:30 and only have a little while to wait.

Last week they didn't put up the cables!
There was too much snow.
If the cables aren't up, it's more like mountain climbing instead of hiking, so for me that means, no Half Dome.
But just today I saw where they got them up.

So, Friday morning at 3 am we head out. 
Friday go in to camp and relax. 
Saturday do Half Dome and Sunday do Clouds Rest.
Monday come out and drive home.
Tuesday sleep in and go to work on Wednesday.

I am wondering if I will make to both mountains, though.
I haven't been exercising like I should and I'll be 64 this summer.
In fact, I consider this as my 64th birthday hike, even though my birthdays in a couple of months.

However, there is a shortcut I'm considering.
Instead of camping at Little Yosemite Valley in the backpackers camp, maybe we should camp right between the bases ofthe two mountains we want to do.

Below is a picture from Half Dome facing Clouds Rest.
If you go down to the base of Half Dome and curve a U-turn back to the right about 4 miles, you'll be in Little Yosemite Valley.
Instead, I'm thinking of finding a campsite in the area you're looking at right there between these two mountains.
​Then, one morning walk a mile and do Half Dome, the next morning walk a mile and do Clouds Rest.
​The hikes will still be a good bit more than a mile, but they won't be such a lot more as if we stayed in the camp.

Well, it's a thought.
We'll figure it out for sure when the time comes.

G'night for now.
Jou Baur

Well, it's finally almost time for my Half Dome trip.
We're going in June 2nd and doing Half Dome June 3rd.
I sure hope the cables are up by then, but it's been a record winter.
They were going to put them up this weekend but there's still too much snow.

On my last trip two years ago I don't have any footage of my actual ascent up the cables.
That's because I kept both hands on the cables.
Sliding off of Half Dome wasn't on my itinerary.
This year I have my 2 GoPro's with both a head mount and a chest mount so I should get some great footage of my climb.
I also have my Panasonic and selfie stick, but I'm not sure about taking my hands off of the cables to use it.
Oh well, we'll see.