(the lottery opens then for the entire season), we knew this was our opportunity.
We were up at 4:30am on Saturday morning, and hit the trailhead by 5am, each armed with headlamps, a gallon of water, food, a few layers of clothing, and work gloves (with *extra grip that we knew we’d need for the cables 
).
Our hike to half Dome began from Happy Isles via the Mist Trail, which wound by both Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls, as we traversed up and into the canyon. The entire time, we were gaining elevation on our assent to the summit, over 5,000 feet 
, and the views were spectacular along the way, including many of the Falls, Liberty Cap, Half Dome (from all sides, including the back), and Clouds Rest.
The last mile up to the summit was particularly challenging, as we hiked step after step, rock over rock up Sub Dome, before reaching the notorious “cables.” 
We put on our work gloves and got after it, hand over hand, never for a second letting go of the cables. We’d take a rest at each wooden board along the way to take a breath, our legs depleted from the 9 mile hike to the summit, and our arms on fire from pulling ourselves up the cables. I was internally freaking out, and Justin was behind me, cheering me on the entire time.
The almost 9 mile hike back down Subdome and by Nevada and Vernal Falls back to the base of Yosemite Valley was a HAUL. Our bodies were so tired from the hike, and going downhill was tough, our leg muscles stressed from the climb up.
It was all we could do to put one foot in front of the other and listen to our music, which cheered us on the entire way down.
We arrived back at Curry Village at 3:30pm, 10 hours after we had departed early that morning. We were so, so tired, and took a nap before heading out to dinner for pizza and a cocktail at the Curry Village Pizza Deck. Pizza has NEVER tasted so good as it did that evening!
Here’s our GoPro Footage Recap of our Half Dome Hike and Cables Adventure:
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