THE GREATEST DAY OF MY LIFE: THE HALF DOME

Most people's "best days" are the day they get married, they day they squeeze life out from between their legs, or when they taste raspberry gelato for the first time. Not me, the best day of my life was last fall when I reached the summit of the Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, California.

I remember months and months before GeoJourney, my friend Laura was showing me pictures of her GeoJourney. She casually went through her facebook and showed me a picture of herself standing on the base of the Half Dome. Behind her was a vertical rock-face with a tiny little wood and metal latter. I laughed at her. You didn't climb that did you? I honestly didn't think it was humanly possible. So you can get an idea of what I am talking about...here ya go.

It's intense. I don't really know else how to explain it. I made up my mind at that very moment, that if I was accepted on GeoJourney, there was no way in Hell I would be able to get to the top of that thing, but I was going to die trying. It was so fascinating and alluring, so dangerous and tempting.

Flash Forward almost a year later. Its 5 a.m. I'm climbing out of my tent in Yosemite and breathing in the fresh morning air. Of course, its still pitch black outside. I can see the stars. My stomach is in knots; today is the day we hike to the Half Dome.

After having an impossibly hard time climbing Mt. St. Helens, I had it in my mind that there was no way to physically do the hike ahead. Helens was only about a 8 mile hike, round trip. The Half Dome hike was 20 miles round trip.

We packed in the vans, popped in our iPods, and hit the road. Half an hour later we were at the head of the trail. I got an early start, leaving ahead of everyone else. Even though I had it in my mind that I most likely wouldn't be able to make it, I was going to give every ounce of my being to accomplishing this. I kept saying to myself: If I can do this, I can do anything.

The hike was magical. You are surrounded by beautiful towering rock formations, gigantic trees, and waterfalls. As the sun rose while I started on my path, I felt alive. I was completely ready to take on the day. Here are some pictures of the initial hike.I was suprisingly making great time. I was keeping up with most of the guys, pictured above, and having a blast. My mind was in a great place. I was motivated and staying strong, and most importantly, I was suprising myself.

Ten miles passed, ten miles of great stories and getting to know my friend's Paul and Justin. It was exhausting, but satisfying. When we started seeing the Dome in the distance, a mixture of fear and excitment hit my stomach. I was running on pure adreneline. Finally, there it was. Right infront of me. I was standing where my friend Laura had stood nearly a year earlier. Holy shit.

I sat there and exchanged looks with Paul and Justin. This rock face was unbelievably huge. The latter was ridiculoulsy small, and there were a ton of people on it. I sat and finished my lunch at the base; contemplating if I was really going to try and go up this thing. Its done like this: wood planks nailed into the granite surface every 10 feet or so, and a chain on each side of you, about 5 feet apart, for you to hold on to. The "up" lane was the same as the "down " lane. People were desperately hanging on to the chain as others wrapped around them to go down. Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy shit.

Fuck it. I came this far. I made it ten miles. I am here. I am going to get to the top of this rock.

This is my face as I am about to climb. If you think I look excited, I'm not. I am scared shitless. Did I mention that the rock behind me is 5,000 feet above the vally floor?

At the base, I read the warning sign as I picked a pair of disgustingly sweaty, used, gloves to help in my climb. Dont Climb in Rain. Rock is slick. Be Careful. You Could Die. People die on this climb every year, multiple people.

Holy shit. I put my feet on the first of many wooden planks, looked up at my friend Paul for some assurance. He told me I could do it. And the climb began.

The first few strides were not as hard as I thought they would be. But after 30 feet of climbing you are literally climbing nearly straight up. It was helpful when you could use each chain to pull yourself up, but this was not always possible due to the large traffic of people going both up and down at the same time. With every wooden plank I found salvation. I stopped and breathed. I tried to realize that it was worth it, it was worth it. I did everything I could to attempt to convince myself not to look down. I did anways. Holy shit.

I was mortified. My adrenaline instantly turned to fear. I was only half-way up, completely exhausted, and scared. It was getting significantly more difficult with each step to pull myself up to the next plank to relax for a brief second. People were passing me. I thought that if I fell, I would not only kill myself but I would create a domino effect and kill every single human being behind me on the latter. I kept going.

I was pushing myself so unbelievably hard. You obviously cannot stop half way up the Dome and get a drink of water, unless you are seriously brave. As for me, I was keeping every finger wrapped around that metal chain. It was my life line. I was getting closer and closer. I couldn't believe I had almost made it. The angle of the rock was starting to ease. I wasn't climbing straight up anymore. Then it started, I started seeing spots. This is bad, I knew I was in trouble.

In some combination of total exhaustion and bravery. I climbed outside of the metal chain latter and sat on the rock. Try my hardest to balance myself so I wouldnt slide down the face. I needed to catch my breath, to re-evaluate my situation, to pump myself up.

This is looking down from the ladder to the base. Get the idea?

Paul saw me from higher up, told me I was crazy and to keep going, that he could see the top. I got back in line and started to climb for the final time. I was so close, the chain was getting limp on the poles and it was hard to hold on. I was getting so excited.

Then, finally, the ground leveled off. HOLY SHIT! Had I made it to the top? Yes. I did. I made it to the top of the fucking Half Dome in fucking Yosemite National Park. Oh my GOD. I was ecstatic. Every hair in my body stood on end. I could not believe what I had just accomplished. The ONE thing in the world I thought I really couldnt do, I did.

I ran, which turned out to be a horrible idea, to the edge. I wanted to see over. I wanted to know what it looked like to be 5,000 feet above the ground on something compeltely natural and beautiful. HOLY SHIT. Slow down, hit the breaks. It was like a cartoon. I saw over the edge and about pissed myself, my heels dragging on the ground. There is no way to explain what it feels like to sit on the edge of a rock and look down 5,000 feet. Complete awe. I still have nightmares to this very day where I run to the end and don't stop in time.

Enough of the fear. I was on top of the world. Here are some pictures of the top.




Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. I had never been so happy in my life, so proud of myself. I had never felt such a humble confidence in myself before. I knew I had worked my ass off, kept a positive mind, and I accomplished something I felt was impossible. I wanted to live on top of the Half Dome forever. We all took our shoes off, ate lunch, and looked out over California. It was truly magical. The happiest day of my entire life.

Going down was another story entirely. It was starting to rain and a thunderstorm was quickly approaching. Yet, people continued to climb. Idiots? Yes. The Half Dome is made of granite. Granite is slippery when wet. HELLO. It doesn't matter how much tread you have on your shoes, you cannot grip the surface. Never in my life had I felt so close to death. Standing on the wall, looking straight down 5,000 feet, and slowly slipping/losing grip as countless assholes made their way up...pretty damn horrifying.

But no need to ruin a good moment. I made it down, and after a brief panic attack, looked back up at that massive rock I had just conquered, and gave myself a pat on the back. Now only ten miles back home.