After stopping in San Jose to pick up the fisheye, I thought I'd snap a photo while we drove through Oakdale.

On the way up. Look at them pale legs! (I almost always hike in long pants)

I love Corey, too! (Well, the one with an E in her name, anyway...)

So yeah, I'm glad I brought the fisheye.

Me taking a picture of a guy taking a picture of a couple in front of a mountain.

Corey trying out one of our new water bladders while riding in Paul's SUV. These bladders were awesome as the water pump hooks directly up to them.

The sun catching the top of a waterfall.

Me and Corey at Inspiration Point.

Corey adjusts her pack as Paul and Gina head for the bench while we wait for the shuttle in Wawona.

Ginka and Luc chill out on the shuttle. It's worth noting that all the Yosemite Shuttles have hybrid engines.

Corey hangs back for a moment while Sondra, Ginka, Paul and Gina look ahead in Mariposa Grove.

Starting to go through Mariposa Grove, near Wawona.

Corey standing in front of a big tree.

Gina snapped this pic of us at Mariposa Grove

bygina

The start of a thunderstorm on Friday afternoon. This was taken from the back of Paul's car.

Half Dome from the valley floor. Note the buck in the lower part of the frame.

Another buck sighting.

Gina and Sondra discuss our upcoming 18-mile hike while Paul waits for the order to drive. It's 5am and we're just about to leave for the trailhead.

Paul (left) and Gina (right) drive us to the trailhead at 5:15am. The blue-grey predawn sky can be seen through the windshield.

Unpacking the cars at the trailhead. 5:20am.

Pre-dawn on the Half Dome Trail. Sondra and Corey discuss the adventure ahead as Paul reminds everyone of the time.

Taking a quick water break against a cliff.

Half Dome's shadow, the morning of our massive hike.

Corey hikes ahead of me on the John Muir Trail on the way up to Half Dome.

From the John Muir Trail with the 18mm lens.

The John Muir Trail with the 10.5mm fisheye lens.

Crossing the bridge, where the John Muir Trail meets the Mist Falls Trail. Half Dome is obscured from view by another mountain (I'll look it up later).

We stopped at the restroom after crossing the bridge and were met by this squirrely squirrel.

Stopping for a snack at the base of Half Dome.

Corey gets her gloves on as we prep at the base of Half Dome. There are really two summits: the first gets you to the base of the cables. There are switchbacks and steps but eventually the trail just stops and you have to scramble up bare rock. And then there's the "very" top.

Heading up the switchbacks of Half Dome.

Partway up the switchbacks and steps of Half Dome, before the cables. (Looking south)

Looking up at how much further we have to go after having already hiked over 8 miles.

Traffic jam on the cables for Half Dome. We got 30 feet up, sat there for 10 minutes or so, and decided it wasn't worth the 2+ hour wait time and having to walk the extra mile or two back to camp without the group. So no, we did not summit Half Dome that day. Next time!