Half Dome Storm

Of all the landmarks in Yosemite National Park, the Half Dome is my absolute favorite. I’ve taken photos of Half Dome from Glacier Point, from the Valley Floor, from the North Dome, from bridges, from meadows, at sunrise, at sunset, in the summer, and in the winter. I’ve even done the Half Dome hike five times.

This photo of Half Dome was taken back in 2012 while on a hike with a friend to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls. The day had started out bright and sunny, but the mood suddenly began to change as we neared the summit of the Upper Falls. Realizing that a major lighting storm was moving across the Valley towards us, we scrambled to get back down to the Valley Floor ahead of the storm. While we did get pounded by the heavy rains during the last part of our descent, we were able to stay out of reach of the lightning.

Location: Yosemite Valley; Yosemite National Park.