Half Dome and Yosemite Valley are a fine exhibit of a glacier's power. This dramatic U-shaped valley was carved by slow, methodic, downhill glacial creep. As the alpine glacier progressed, rock debris ground away at the underlying bedrock under its massive weight of ice and snow. Half Dome, in Yosemite National Park, California, appears as a neatly severed mass of granite.
For many, the hike to Half Dome is the ultimate Yosemite experience. This seventeen mile, two day trip can offer a 360 degree view. Peering over the severed edge of the dome and straight down a 2,000 foot drop into the valley below, can be the thrill that lasts a lifetime. The final 650 foot leg of the hike climbs a steep assent, aided by using a set of handrail cables.
Half dome remains as one of the most recognizable rock monoliths. This granite centerpiece features one of the steepest rock faces in the world, a 93 percent vertical grade, and attracts visitors and climbers from all over the world.