One Response to “Conquering Half Dome”

1. Jay Aaron on March 9th, 2009 10:42 pm

   Christina,

   Your post reminds me of a wonderful part of my past…

   For many years during the 1980’s I was a featured folk musician and storyteller at Yosemite, going there five or six times each year to share time with park visitors in the Valley during the daytime, around the fire, or in the Lodge.

   I’m deathly afraid of heights, but convinced myself that standing at the top of Half Dome was one of my “must do” life experiences.

   So during one of my several-week stays in Yosemite, I engaged the assistance of a friend as my moral support, and like you, we set off at 6:00 AM from the Valley.

   Many hours later after a tiring yet invigorating hike on a most glorious day, I found myself sitting 20 yards from the bottom of the wire “ladder” that leads up the back of Half Dome to the top of this magnificent natural wonder. As I looked up, my fear was so intense that I literally could not – would not – move.

   My friend David was very kind as he spoke to me in a soothing voice about how I COULD do this. But he also said in a kind way that it would be OK if I just sat there.

   Then he turned and began to walk toward the ladder. After five or six steps David turned around again to face me, and said in a quiet but commanding voice: “I didn’t come here to sit at the bottom of Half Dome, so I’m going up to the top. AND SO ARE YOU!”

   It was as if he hypnotized me. My fear was still present, but my body got up – seemingly independent of my rational mind – and followed him, wondering all the time what the heck I was doing.

   As we approached the ladder, I saw teens and their parents heading up, and watched a couple in their 60’s start up just a few people ahead of us in line. I convinced myself that if they could do it, I could, too.

   David offered to let me decide if I’d prefer to follow him or have him follow me, and I chose to have him encourage me from behind. He coached me almost step-by-step to keep moving forward and not look down. Half way up, he told me to stop and look to my right and left, and I was filled by a new sense of awe and energy.

   Soon we were at the top, and David thought it was time to celebrate, but I told him I’d celebrate when I touched the ground at the base after going back down. Still, I was elated at my accomplishment.

   David even held my feet (just for my own sense of security) as I laid down and peered the 3000+ feet straight down into the valley – and watched as a pair of climbers finished their day-and-a-half ascent of the face. They pulled themselves onto the flat top of Half Dome, and chatted with us for only fifteen minutes or so until it was late enough in the day that we had to start down. They walked to the ladder and started walking down the curved back of Half Dome – forward (facing away from the rock)!

   Now even though the fear was starting to return as I imagined having to go back down the ladder, I figured if they could walk down forward, I could go down facing the rock. David went first, coaching and encouraging me to stay centered and take it one step at a time.

   Finally, I found myself placing my right foot on the ground at the base of the ladder, and – as promised – I broke out into a joyous celebration, yelling and shouting and letting out all of my pent-up fear and elation (and drawing the attention of far too many other people).

   David and I spent the rest of the day hiking back down to the Valley in a state of “natural high,” not only from having stood at the top of Half Dome, but also from the amazing sense of accomplishment that we’d both achieved – he having successfully coached me through my deathly fears, and my having conquered my fears and the climb itself.

   Our senses heightened, our hike back to the campground was filled with amazing events: Seeing a bear; finding a meadow full of a rare wildflower; discovering a 50- or 60-year-old cabin site that wasn’t on the topographic map.

   We arrived exhausted back at the campground, just as the moon was rising, and I headed off to my tent site. Even though I was tired, I couldn’t go straight to sleep. So I took advantage of the quiet to marvel at the stars, and the moonshine as it lit the cascading water of Yosemite Falls before getting what might have been the most restful, peaceful night of sleep I’ve ever had.

   After that day, my performances in the Park for the rest of the week had an energy that was powered by my ongoing energetic memory of climbing to the top of Half Dome and making it back down again.

   And as you now know, that experience has stayed with me ever since. Whenever I feel afraid, I only have to remember that day, and every other fear seems unreasonable, and I know that I can conquer my fear of practically anything.

   Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to share my story. Your post brought this great memory forward, and I’m grateful for the ability to re-live and re-energize it.

   Jay Aaron
   Strategic Visionary / Visionary Strategist
   http://JayAaron.com
   Founder of http://www.Twitternars.com
   Follow me on Twitter: http://Twitter.com/newthoughts

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