I have 4 permits for day hike up Half Dome on Saturday, September 11, 2010. I don't have all the details yet, but we will drive up Friday afternoon, car camp Friday night, day hike Half Dome on Saturday, car camp Saturday night and hit one more day hike on Sunday morning before heading home. More precise details to come as date draws near. Stay tuned. RSVP now onto the waiting list if you are interested in joining. Hike Distance: 15.2 miles (22.7 km) round trip via Mist Trail Half Dome Elevation: 8,842 feet (2,650 meters) Total Elevation Gain: 4,800 feet (1,600 meters) from Yosemite Valley Hiking Time: 8-10 hours Why climb the trail to Half Dome? Half Dome is the ultimate Yosemite day hike - the one you can't die without doing, and the one you're most likely to die while doing. It's got 900 feet (300 meters) worth of spectacular waterfalls at the bottom if you take the Mist Trail route; bigger-than-life panoramic vistas at the top; and a knee-knocking, hand-clamming cable ascent that will test your courage, your strength, and the tread on your shoes. Crowd Factor: Since the permit system - max 400 people per day. (rather than up to 1,000 before permit system) Scenery Factor: Unsurpassed. Difficulty: Extreme. It's long, steep at the beginning and end, and more dangerous than most Yosemite hikes. It's probably the most difficult of all Yosemite day hikes. On the traditional 1 to 10 scale, this one rates an 10+. Insanity Factor: 9 out of 10. That's why I do it.