Of all the possible hikes in California's Yosemite National Park, one of the favorite day hikes is up the backside of 8,842-foot Half Dome, at the eastern edge of Yosemite Valley.

It is the most hiked mountain in the Sierra Nevada, with about 50,000 ascents per year! This is a big hike; a full ten- to twelve-hour day for most, comprising about sixteen miles round trip. Included is a harrowing 425-foot vertical climb up the nearly 45-degree incline of Half Dome's granite slope, which is accomplished with the aid of two steel cable handrails.

The famous "cables" on Half Dome are installed by the The National Park Service for the duration of the extended summer season - usually mid May until mid October.

To the outdoor adventurer, "bagging" Half Dome is a rite of passage, an entry on their "fun resume" and a "Certificate of Accomplishment," which leads to other challenges.

The thought of climbing up Half Dome was considered impossible until October 1875, when George Anderson, a Scottish blacksmith and jack-of-all-trades, labored weeks to drill holes into the granite of the backside to create a ropeway.

He inserted steel spikes and built his own ladder. As he set an eyelet, he would ascend and stand on it for footing in order to drill the next hole. Slowly, but steadily, he worked until he finally reached the summit.

He then secured a rope to the eyelets with knots to allow a hand-over-hand traverse. The current system of steel cables, with "pipe" supports, and 2' x 4' wooden footrests (ten feet apart), was first put up by the Sierra Club in 1919. The cables were replaced in 1933 then again in 1986. It remains a draw for the adventurous seeking a challenge rewarded by a beautiful view.