Visible from afar, this steep, rugged half-sphere soars high above the Yosemite Valley. Originally named «Tis-sa-ack», a native American phrase for “cleft rock”, it witnessed many famous climbs. The first known ascent was by George Anderson in 1875, who drilled holes into the smooth granite to successfully conquer the rock face. Since then, hikers reach the summit each year by following a trail starting from the valley floor. After a strenuous climb of several hundred granite steps, they find themselves at the foot of the steep east face. They overcome this final difficulty with the help of two steel cables attached to posts. Thanks to its distinctive shape, Half Dome ranks among America’s most iconic mountains.