VideoNovember 3, 2015November 4, 2015

Shoestring Adventures Official Promo

by Alyx Schwarz

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Alyx Schwarz

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Upcoming Adventures

july

28jul(jul 28)12:00 am30(jul 30)11:59 pmSold Out!Yosemite Half Dome Women's Backpacking AdventureActivity:Backpacking,Women OnlyLevel:StrenuousDays:3Capacity:6-8Availability:Early Bird

Event Photos

Time

28 (Saturday) 12:00 am - 30 (Monday) 11:59 pm

Location

Yosemite National Park

Event Details

Rising nearly 5,000 feet above Yosemite Valley and 8,800 feet above sea level, Half Dome is one of the most challenging and rewarding summits in Yosemite National Park. Join us on a 3-day backpacking adventure to check this iconic climb off your bucket list!

Learn from our experienced guides how to pack your bag, read a map, cook in the backcountry, hike safely in bear country and minimize your impact. Join our supportive community of Shoestring Warriors and take back your weekend!

Photos by Triptographer Mike Struna

Highlights For This Adventure

Experience many of Yosemite’s icons, including Glacier Point, Panorama Trail, Little Yosemite Valley, Half Dome and the Mist Trail

Included With Every Shoestring Adventure

Experienced Wilderness First Responder/CPR Certified trip leaders
A supportive community of Shoestring Warriors
Gourmet backcountry meals
Our Triptographer will tag along to document the trip, so you can stay in the moment
Edited photos 3 weeks after your trip ends
Shoestring Warrior Adventure Kit with curated souvenirs
Wilderness permits, including Half Dome permits
One-way shuttle from Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point

Shoestring Adventures operates with special use permits. A portion of your ticket goes toward protecting and preserving this park for future generations.

Your Journey

Day 1: Meet in Yosemite Valley at noon. Ride the shuttle from Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point (elevation 7,200-ft). Descend from Glacier Point and set up camp along Illilouette Creek. Total: 3.7-miles
Day 2: After a hearty breakfast, we will gradually climb out of the Illilouette Valley to the Panorama Trail, bringing us to the top of Nevada Fall before we descend to our wilderness campsite in Little Yosemite Valley (elevation 6,100-ft). Total: 5.5-miles
Half Dome: We’ll swap our backpacks for lighter day packs, and decide as a group whether to hike 3.5-miles to summit Half Dome (elevation 8,842-ft) at sunset on Day 2 or sunrise on Day 3. Total: 7-miles
Day 3: Hike down the Mist Trail, passing Nevada and Vernal Falls, to Happy Isles trailhead. We plan to return to Yosemite Valley between 3-6pm. Total: 4-miles

Total: Approx. 20-miles

Schedule subject to change due to weather, camper ability/injury, natural events or park restrictions. Shoestring Warriors should be in good physical shape, but we will hike at an easy pace and take breaks as needed.

Trip Level: Strenuous

This adventure will challenge the most experienced of hikers. Advanced training on long-distance hikes with a pack is required.

Activity: 5-8 hours most days
Distances: Hike up to 12 miles most days
Surfaces: mountainous, exposed terrain with steep ascents/descents and uneven trails
Elevation change: up to 4,000 ft/day
Altitude: up to 14,000 ft.
Backpack Weight: 30-40 pounds

The approach to Half Dome is steep and difficult. The last 400 vertical feet (130 meters) up the eastern slope are so sheer that Yosemite staff have installed cables for you to cling to as you pull yourself up. Click here for tips on climbing the cables.

Meet Our Team

Trip Leader Heather currently works as an Internship Coordinator at a university and is aspiring to work full time as a Life Coach, offering healing and rejuvenating outdoor activities to others. Heather has found that being in the outdoors provides people with an opportunity to slip away from the sounds of the city, exercise, release tension, gain clarity, find peace, and discover something new about yourself, among so many other things! One of her most meaningful trips was backpacking the John Muir Trail solo. She is so thankful to be a part of the Shoestring Adventures family and looks forward to getting to know you! LEARN MORE

Triptographer Stepfanie is an outdoor enthusiast, photographer, writer, and a lifelong learner. You can find her trying out a new craft or testing out how she can integrate things she enjoys. She loves connecting with adventurous and creative souls! LEARN MORE

First Time Shoestring Warrior?

Before your trip, you will receive a Welcome Kit with a customized package list, introductions to your fellow campers, weather forecast and everything else you need to know to prepare.

Gear List

Provided by Shoestring Adventures

group first aid kit
group cooking gear
stoves and fuel
group bathroom trowel

Required Gear (provided at no additional cost if you don’t have your own)

backpack (60 liters or more) with rain cover
sleeping bag
sleeping pad
headlamp and spare batteries
tents (2 and 3-person tents will be shared with 1-2 other campers)
bear canister

Required Clothing

non-slip gloves to grip the Half Dome cables
bandana
beanie
camp shoes
gloves
hat
sunglasses
insulating layer
rain shell
hiking pants or shorts
hiking shirt
hiking boots or shoes (broken in)
hiking socks
undergarments
long underwear/pajamas

Required Personal Items

day pack for Half Dome summit
backpacking cup, bowl, utensils
ID & health insurance card
water bladder or bottles with minimum 3L capacity
SPF chapstick and sunblock
Toothbrush/toothpaste
deodorant
unscented baby wipes
small towel
contacts/solution
comb/hair band
bug repellant
hand sanitizer
prescription medications
personal bathroom kit: toilet paper, ziplock bags, personal wipes, hand sanitizer

Optional

camera and accessories
trekking poles (highly recommended for balance and to help reduce strain on knees)
small pillow
small multi-tool
camp chair

Transportation

Transportation to Yosemite National Park is not included. While you are responsible for getting to and from Shoestring Adventures locations, we will help coordinate carpools for Shoestring Warriors leaving from Los Angeles. Passengers are expected to contribute to their driver for gas and wear & tear. Shuttle from Yosemite Valley to Glacier point is included.

Getting There

Traveling from out of town? San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Reno/Tahoe International Airports are approximately 5 hours drive to Yosemite Valley. Click here for a complete list of airports. You will need to rent a car to get from the airport to the park.

Weather

Typical late spring to summer climate in Yosemite Valley is warm to hot, with occasional rain (usually as afternoon thundershowers, especially at the higher elevations) with average daytime temperatures in the 80’s and nighttime temperatures in the 50’s. We will attempt to avoid afternoon thundershowers by getting an early start. If storm clouds are present, we will not attempt to summit Half Dome for your safety.

Even if you manage to avoid getting struck by lightning, the rain from a thunderstorm will make the granite surface of the cable route even more slippery and dangerous than it already is. No refunds will be given if we cannot summit Half Dome due to unsafe weather conditions.

Health & Safety

Supporting the health and safety of participants is among our top priorities. All Shoestring Adventures trip leaders hold Wilderness First Responder/CPR, Leave No Trace and Food Handling certifications. In remote destinations, we carry a DeLorme inReach Explorer Satellite Messenger to contact authorities in case of emergency.

On the trail, we minimize risk by keeping groups together while hiking, encouraging everyone to drink water and apply sunscreen, and making sure we’re prepared with gear appropriate to weather and our activities.

Not Included

Transportation is not included.
Alcoholic beverages
Tips for trip leader and photographer
Meal at local restaurant
$35 park entrance fee

Policies

Participants must complete an Enrollment Form and sign our Participant Agreement.

Registration and Payment

We don’t want finances to be a barrier to the outdoors. To request a custom payment plan, email alyx@shoestringadventures.com.

To protect your investment, we recommend that you purchase travel insurance.

Please read our FAQ for more information and our cancellation policy.

Member Pre-sale: $535 (Begins 5/4)
Early Bird: $595 (Begins 5/11)
Regular: $650 (After 6/29)