Mist Trail, Half Dome, Panorama, 4 Mile...in one day?

[mrbloagus]

Hello - new member here. Just wondering if anyone has attempted/completed Half Dome (including cables) by going up via the Mist Trail, and down (and up, then down again) via Panorama and 4-Mile. I know it's over 20 miles, but is it reasonable to do in one day at a reasonable pace, including breaks and photo ops? Assume gear/food/water shouldn't be a problem, just time.

This would be late May with somewhat longer days. We're fit, but not regular hikers. I did Half Dome via the Mist Trail years ago and don't recall it being too difficult. A little darkness toward the bottom of 4-Mile would be fine.

Thanks for any tips!

[AlmostThere]

No.

Mind you, I know people who do 20+ mile day hikes... but they hike three days per week and go for 6+ day backpacking trips, and never have a problem. You don't remember it being too difficult to do Half Dome, but I can guarantee that "years ago" has fogged your memory.

What you are attempting is Half Dome ( 5,000 feet of gain over 8 miles, with some wicked terrible steps crowded with tourists most of the day) followed by 4 miles back to Nevada Falls then 8 miles with 2000+ feet of loss followed by 3500+ feet of gain to Glacier Point in the FULL AFTERNOON SUN WITHOUT SHADE followed by four and a half miles down some knee-wrenching switchbacks followed by two miles of limping back to Curry Village or Yosemite Village day use parking.

You will kind of die out there, is my prediction. 9,000 feet of gain with roughly half of the hiking in full sun on granite and decomposed granite? If the elevation doesn't slow you down, the heat will. After 1 pm you can bake cookies on the granite. Uh uh, not me. You couldn't pay me.

Pick one trail and go up in the early morning, leaving a nice easy downhill for the hottest part of the day, and do one of the other trails the next day. Your buddies will thank you. If you do Half Dome, don't forget your permit.

[Grzldvt]

Well I did in my youth and was running multiple marathons a year. While the distance is not bad the elevation gain and loss is killer, I am with AlmostThere unless you are in serious hiking shape it is going to be a stretch. If any of you have the slightest bit of a knee issue, this will aggravate it beyond comprehension.
If you have two cars and need to do something that gets you back to the Valley, I would head out the Sunrise trail head on 120, leave the car there, crank up over Cloud's Rest and down to the Valley Floor. IMO, Cloud's Rest is just so much better. The next day pick up the car, and head off for another short day hike along 120.

[balzaccom]

A good question to ask yourself, as you contemplate this hike, is what have you done of a similar nature?

What's the longest hike you've finished, what's the most climbing and descending you've done in a single day.

That would give you at least some benchmark. There aren't many hikes in the US that would match this one...

[mrbloagus]

Thanks for the replies. You've all confirmed what I was feeling. We're going for enjoyment after all, not testing limits.

AlmostThere, I look forward to confirming whether or not my memory has fogged. Although to be fair I was a high school varsity distance runner 20 years ago, and now...I am far from it.