Half Dome NW Face Pano

[Jim Dockery]

Half-Dome-Evening-closeup_Pano1bw

• Jim Dockery
• Jun 22, 2019

I will always remember my first big wall climb when I look up at Half Dome's NW face.

 

[Ben Egbert]

This is just spectacular Jim, and I am in awe of anyone who can climb it.

 

[Jim Dockery]

Thanks Ben. Our 3 day climb in hot weather back in 74 pushed me to the limit. We climbed slow, having an especially hard time hauling our poorly made bag up behind us, and spent a night hanging in slings just below a beautiful comfortable ledge where most people camp. Out of water and edible food on the third day we were both hallucinating on the summit where we were forced to make another bivy. I didn't do another climb like that for a year, but learned a lot, and didn't repeat those mistakes!

 

[JimFox]

The learning process on those climbs can have very bad consequences, I am glad you lived and learned through it.

I love this angle on Half Dome, it's a really sweet view indeed.

 

[JimFox]

Congrats on the Daily Featured Post Jim!

@Jim Dockery

 

[AlanLichty]

Amazing sight and an interesting tale of your adventure. Glad you are still around to talk about it.

 

[Jeffrey]

Fabulous texture and BW work Jim. I never knew climbers went right up the face. That would seriously kick my ass, too.

 

[MonikaC]

Half-Dome-Evening-closeup_Pano1bw

• Jim Dockery
• Jun 22, 2019

I will always remember my first big wall climb when I look up at Half Dome's NW face.

Wonderful shot, Jim and the requisite epic story to go with it!

 

[Jim Dockery]

Thanks for the feature Jim!

I've always thought I should write up an account of our climb - to this day one of the hardest things I've done, but mostly because of inexperience and mistakes. I remember trying to get a headlamp out of the haul bag in the dark when we were trying to make the bivy ledge. The first headlamps back in those days used a huge 6 volt battery you wore on your belt with a wire up to your head. The battery had burst with all the rough bouncing of the bag and the acid got on my sore scratched up hands. It took a minute for me to understand what was happening, then I threw the damn thing off the wall. Luckily there weren't any climbers below us!

Here I'm lowering my partner to do a pendulum on the second day. We only took a few pictures.

 

[Jim Sanderson]

If you were to rotate the photo vertically about 90 degrees backwards I would be “inclined” to make the trip myself. Nice one.

 

[JohnC]

Very nice Jim. It reminds me a lot of Ansel Adams, Monolith the Face of Half Dome. For Adams that was the first photo he ever visualized before shooting and is considered one of his most iconic.

 

[Jim Dockery]

Thanks John, that is one of my favorite photos of all time and part of the inspiration to do that climb (and get this shot).

 

[JohnC]

Thanks John, that is one of my favorite photos of all time and part of the inspiration to do that climb (and get this shot).

Glad you completed the climb safely.