DIVING BOARD
We set out at dawn, our goal to reach the Diving Board, a striking rock formation in Yosemite that juts out in front of Half Dome. Recent snowstorms had dumped over a meter of snow, making it uncertain whether we could make it, but we were determined to at least reach Nevada Falls. At 5:40 a.m., the four of us were ready and left from our camper. The trail quickly became steep, winding with switchback after switchback, but as the sun began to rise, the view improved with every step. The snow-covered valley stretched beneath us, and the sunlight kissed the back of Half Dome in the distance.
By the time we reached Clark Point, Nevada Falls was illuminated, its waters raging from the recent snowmelt. It was a sight to behold, and we had the entire scene to ourselves. We soon encountered a "rockfall danger" sign on the John Muir Trail (JMT), but despite the warning, we pushed forward, figuring the freezing temperatures made the threat less likely. However, the trail took another turn when the protective wall above us funneled dripping water, transforming the path into a river. Despite our efforts to avoid it, our feet were soaked, and we hadn’t even made it halfway up the mountain.
When we finally reached Nevada Falls, we rested briefly, soaking in the solitude and beauty. Feeling encouraged, we decided to continue toward the Diving Board. The trail was manageable at first, but soon it disappeared beneath fresh snow, forcing us to trudge through waist-deep drifts without snowshoes. Progress was slow and difficult. At one point, we crossed a river on a fallen tree trunk, the snow offering just enough grip to avoid slipping into the icy water.
As we approached the Snake Dike route, the snow made finding the trail nearly impossible. Relying on GPS and cairns, we scrambled over rocky sections, the narrow path becoming increasingly sketchy under icy conditions. Some of us were anxious, but we pressed on. After a final grueling stretch, we reached the edge of the Diving Board. Though the deep snow kept us from the best viewpoint, the sight of Yosemite Valley from the 600-meter drop was breathtaking and made the effort worth it.
The descent was even more challenging. Rather than retracing our steps along the narrow ledge, we chose a snow-filled gully. While soft snow gave us confidence, hidden gaps between rocks made the descent treacherous. After several slips and near falls, we finally found a better-marked trail and worked our way back into the valley.
By the time we returned to Nevada Falls, we encountered the rest of our group, who had spent the day on easier hikes. Their energy was a stark contrast to our exhaustion after hours of navigating deep snow. Together, we took the Mist Trail down, getting another view of the roaring falls from below.
As we reached the campground, we discovered the campers had been moved—no reservation meant no guaranteed spot. We snuck in under the cover of darkness, too tired to care about the rules. After the day we’d had, all that mattered was getting some much-needed rest.