Merced Lake to Half Dome in the morning

[NandoDave]

Good day folks. My first post here, and sincerely hope it won't be the last.

I'm trying to plan a few days I have set up for just after Labor day weekend. The final day of my hike will likely be Merced Lake to the Valley, out via Happy Isles.

The reason I'm posting on here is to ask some of you more knowledgable people if you think it is within the bounds of sanity to get an early start from Merced Lake and make it to half dome in time to beat the main lunchtime crowds? I know we won't beat the real early birds.

I realise the distance to the cables is a lot longer but I get the impressions the altitude change is more favourable.

What are your opinions?

[bill-e-g]

That's a looooong day for most with a pack.

Even if you go out the Mist .. it's a total of over 17 miles.

Carrying a pack isn't day hiking. Unless you are in very
good shape you'll probably be stumbling down the
trail at the end. At least you'll be smelling the barn and
know it will be over soon... ???

[TigerFan]

We're probably "average" speed hikers.

It took us about 4 hours to hike from Merced HSC to LYV (backpackers' campground to backpackers' campground) with one long break. It's a relatively easy hike although the flat sandy section (HOT in July) at the end seemed endless.

The Half Dome climb from LYV, roundtrip, took us about 5 hours. That was with a good 45 minutes at the top. We left LYV at 6:30 in the morning and didn't run into any traffic until the way down. We pretty much had the subdome and the cables to ourselves. But by the time we were coming down the subdome, at around 9:30, the traffic coming up slowed us down a bit.

It took us another 3 hours to get down Mist Trail from LYV to Happy Isles. Traffic was intense -- sort of like being in the midst of a pilgrimmage... going the wrong way. The lower half of the Mist Trail had more "sightseers" than hikers, including older visitors, young kids, etc. who needed help negotiating the steep steps. Hiking etiquette was somewhat lacking.

Regardless of when you leave Merced, I think you'll be hard pressed to beat the crowd coming up from the Valley. (Easier hike, yes, but close to double the distance, I think?) And then the Mist Trail in the afternoon with the throngs will probably test your patience.

[Wickett]

I wouldn't do Merced lake to Half Dome then out and I am a speed hiker. I go from the Valley to Morraine Dome in about two and a half hours.

You could Pre-position yourself at Morraine Dome the day before. That way you have a flat two mile easy hike to LYV and you would get to sleep next to a beautiful cascade. That is what I would do.

Also stash your packs at LYV before going up Half Dome and grab them on the way back down, no reason to carry all of that extra weight.

[NandoDave]

Hi guys,

Thanks for all your ideas and perspective. One of the reasons I asked the question was because I thought I might be underestimating the distances involved - it turns out I was right.

Your advice RE: morraine dome sounds like a workable alternative, many thanks for all your other suggestions as well!

[ncheranich]

Hi all. Wanted to know the possibility of day hiking from Merced Lake to Half Dome and back. Since we're staying at the Merced Lake High Sierra Camp, we would only be bringing lunch and water. It's not like we're starting out at in the valley at 4200 ft. then gaining to 8800. More like starting at 7200ft. Okay, so we're in our 50's, but real good shape. It's about 18-20 miles round trip, no? What y'think? Doable?