If your interested in seeing our ascent up the cables, here is our video https://youtu.be/op_Y2oYV8aQ
We successfully completed this day hike for our June 1, 2016 cable permit pass. Total hiking time took around 12hrs (add 1 more hour at top of the dome). Our start time was just before 4:30am, parked in the designated area off of Happy Isle Loop Rd, which was closest to the beginning of The Mist Trail Head. They say it's a 16 mile round trip but my Fitbit showed 20 miles (additional miles walking to and from parking lot i suppose ). Our initial water total was 7 1/2 liters. Definitely not enough water and needed to filter on the way back from the dome, off the Merced River, about 2 miles from Nevada Falls where the water was calm. We arrived back to our car at 5:30pm.
It's a steady elevation gain hike from beginning of trail head to the dome. The hardest part for me was the 8 mile downward return hike, putting a lot of stress on my toes. For the pace we were going, our legs were left sore for a few days.
I loved it so much, the weather was beautiful! I've considered returning next year in May and ascending, this time with the cables down and possibly summiting Clouds Rest. Anyone share any insight who has done Clouds Rest? Is it worth it compared to Half Dome?