Hiring a guide to summit Cathedral Peak. Worth it???

[stanpick]

I am planning a trip to Yosemite in Aug to climb the half dome cables. A couples day prior we are planning on scljmbinv Cathedral Peak. It's my understanding that it is primarily a hike with some pretty good scrambling until the final 50 ft or so which then requires ropes, harnesses, and a guide. (We don't have enough experience rock climbing to go without a guide) At $200+ per hiker the guide is pretty expensive. It was suggested to simply go to that point and then call it a day but if I am going through the trouble to plan a trip I think I'd like to "stand on top". Anyone have any 1st hand experience? Is it worth going ahead and paying the $$ ?

[AlmostThere]

If you have no climbing experience, you need someone with experience to help you with the ropes and technical gear. Climbing is not something you just do. Either sign up with the guide or don't do any rope climbing.

Is it worth it? I don't know. There are plenty of high places to hike to that are quite worth the effort. Mt Hoffman would be one of them - it's the geographical center of the park and a six mile round trip from May Lake. Dana is another, at higher elevations than Cathedral or Half Dome. Clouds Rest, IMO, is superior to Half Dome in many ways.

[balzaccom]

I have climbed Cathedral Peak, and we roped up a long time before the top fifty feet. It is not extremely dangerous...but one of us dropped a water bottle, and we watched it slide, fall, and roll about 1000 down the granite. That's when we roped up.

So if you've never done much climbing, get a guide for Cathedral.

BUt AT is right, as usual. Mt. Hoffman is a great trip, no ropes needed at all, and has simply stunning views. CLoud's Rest is also magical, although a lot longer hike. Another option would be Mammoth Peak out of Lyell Canyon...it is simply a scramble...and also has great views.
Dana, the tallest of them all, is also a slow steady slog up the side of the mountain...and from there you can see all of Mono Lake as well...