Do you feel like you’ve done everything that you would have liked to do by now? Unfortunately there are too many people who would have to respond to that question with a no. Rick Deutsch hasn’t cleaned out his to do list, but he’s well on his way!
Also known as Mr. Half Dome, Rick blogs, writes, lectures and lives life like it is one large adventure. Thankfully this is one adventure which has worked out well for him and his passion.
How many times have you hiked Yosemite’s Half Dome?
For those unfamiliar with Yosemite National Park, it is about 4 hours east of San Francisco and became the third National Park in 1890. Its glacial formed valley is ringed with thousand foot walls and spectacular waterfalls. “Half Dome,” the signature landmark of the park, is an 8,842 ft granite monolith with a 2,000 foot vertical wall. It can be hiked in a 12-hour, 16-mile day with nearly a mile vertical rise and a final 400 ft summit assisted by a steel cable “banister” that ascends the backside of the rock at 45 degrees. I first did this extremely strenuous hike in 1990 and decided I would do it annually — at least once. I’m now up to 23 times.
You are in so many different arenas with the book, your blog, the lectures you do and so on. What inspired you to do it all?
Half Dome has been my passion since the first time. It spurred me on to wanting to experience all the planet has to offer. After getting to the top, I wanted to learn more about Half Dome, but there were no books focused on the hike. Only a few paragraphs appeared in hiking guides. “Somebody ought to write a book.” I’d bemoan. Finally after my 17th time, I decided to self-publish it. It’s been picked up by Wilderness Press and is titled: “One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome”. It’s found in the park, at REI, amazon.com and the usual gang of bookstores. Too many people attempt this hike with little prior knowledge. I see many with way too little water, poor shoes, and no idea that they are undergoing an extremely strenuous hike. The book and website, www.HikeHalfDome.com focus on Half Dome and related subjects. I want to help out those willing to invest the time to train properly and plan a safe and rewarding hike. The blog (www.HikeHalfDome.com/blog) was a natural outgrowth of my quest to help folks. There are a few good Yosemite Park websites, but I really target in on Half Dome — a dash of history, a pinch of trail tips, a cup of new equipment info and a dose of reflections by me and historical figures.
How has your blog changed since you launched it 2 years ago?
I try to keep to my mission and you’d think I’d run out of topics on such a narrow niche, but I keep learning myself and sharing this information with my readers. I draw a few hundred a day and have a group of regulars. I have done the blog everyday except when I am camping and away from an internet connection. In fact, I am writing these words while on a Cruise ship to Chile. There is so much information that needs telling that I have a few days stories in the can and ready to go. I find that few people want to comment – yet I know they are out there. I realize that folks are busy and to expect them to dwell longer than a few minutes with me is unrealistic. There are so many hiking / adventure websites that I am honored to have my audience.
What do you enjoy most about blogging?
I really like learning about Yosemite and the early days of the Half Dome experience. Reading about the surrounding towns, the gold rush, the train, the road system into the park and the work of those who came before us is fun. I like to digest these stories and retell them in an easy to read format. I haven’t had to repeat blog entries — there is that much to learn. I have resisted placing ads on my site and blog. I feel people come for the knowledge not to be hawked into buying something. I do have a link to my book, but really want people to trust me and I actively solicit off-line questions to help people get to the top.
Do you think you’ll ever work on publishing another book in the future?
I have a project in the early stages of trying to help Baby Boomers nearing retirement stay active. Many don’t want to set around and make bird houses. They want to relive their active youth — before kids, mortgage and TV. They need some guidance on outdoor things that will help keep them young and vibrant while enjoying their retirement years.
What do you enjoy most about doing your lectures/speeches? What don’t you like about it?
I give about 40 talks a summer. REI, Yosemite, museums, libraries, Scouts, etc. I love talking! To me it’s a bit of Hollywood for us hams. I’ve developed enough knowledge and want to share it. I have good turnouts to my Bay Area Community Ed Hiking classes and also give talks on Cruise ships on “Hiking the Wonders of the World.” I’ve always lived the Carpe Diem (Seize the day) lifestyle and promote active living — not just existing. I also enjoy giving my Keynote speeches to associations. I relate my Half Dome experience with their lives using D.O.M.E. as a metaphor — Discovery, Obstacles, Motivation and Enthusiasm. All a part of getting up Half Dome and for all of our lives — where you hike or not. A dislike is the lack of direct control of the venue. I’ve been to a talk that had no computer projector so I had to give my talk by holding up my laptop to the room! I am now self contained with my own projector and screen, but this host assured me they had a projector — yes, it was a 35mm projector!
Do you feel like you have accomplished everything you would have liked to by now? If not, what goals do you have left to fulfill?
20 years ago I made my Life List. If we all get 2-3 weeks vacation a year, we just don’t have enough time to see/do all that we want. Really. I realized that if I am ambulatory until I’m, say 75, I needed to book trips NOW and stop thinking about it. “Someday” may never come. I’ve been able to knock off a lot on my list, but as I grow, I learn of new places to go — so my list is dynamic. You are not old until regrets replace your dreams. I want to be on my deathbed and say: I’m ready”. I do not want to utter: “I wish I would have …!
What are some interesting facts that we might not know about Yosemite’s Half Dome?
It was first seen by Whites in 1851. As late as 1870, the Chief Geologist for California, Josiah Whitney said that no one would get to the top. But 5 years later, George Anderson built a ladder of steel spikes that he drilled into the granite and he hoisted a rope up the final 400 vertical feet. That’s how they did it until 1919 when the cable banister we know today was erected. It was replaced in 1933 and 1983. Now 50,000 a year do this 12+-hour hike. The record for running the trail is about 2 ½ hours! Half Dome’s face was first climbed in 1957 by Royal Robbins at age 21. Also, in the nearly 90 years that the cables have been up for summer use (the cables are taken out of their support poles for winter) only 1 person has fallen to his death. Indications are that he was dehydrated and fatigued. It’s a rigorous hike that is getting crowded. If you leave early, wear good boots, treat and drink a lot of water and use hiking poles for the 16-mile trek — and train for it — you will succeed. Carpe Diem!