Michael Reese Sets Fastest Half Dome Time
Colorado climber Michael Reese broke Dean Potter's 2015 record on the Yosemite Valley route, finishing in 1 hour, 12 minutes and 58 seconds.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in National Parks
Michael Reese, 32, of Boulder, Colorado, reached the summit of Half Dome on October 28 in 1 hour, 12 minutes and 58 seconds from the Mist Trailhead, setting the fastest known time for the climb. His time beat Dean Potter's May 3, 2015 record of about 1:19, which had stood for 11 years.
Why it matters
The record ascent follows the line Potter used, a route that climbs Grizzly Gully and Snake Dike without a rope. Potter died less than two weeks after setting his record in a wingsuit accident in Yosemite Valley, adding significance to Reese's effort on the same route.
The timed ascent is a single recorded run, with the new mark about six minutes under Potter's 2015 benchmark of about 1:19. The source does not indicate whether the time has been formally verified.
The players
Michael Reese
Reese is a 32-year-old climber from Boulder, Colorado, who came to climbing from running and triathlon.
Dean Potter
Potter was a climber known for speed and free-solo ascents whose 2015 Half Dome record stood for 11 years before he died in a wingsuit accident in Yosemite Valley.
The details
Reese followed Potter's exact line, climbing Grizzly Gully and then Snake Dike, an 800-foot 5.7 route on the southwest face, without a rope. He rehearsed the line 16 times before the attempt and came to climbing from running and triathlon.
Timeline
May 3, 2015: Dean Potter sets the Half Dome speed record at about 1:19.
2021: One of Potter's close friends first suggests the project to Reese.
September: Reese sets a speed record on Boulder's First Flatiron.
October 28: Reese sets the new Half Dome speed record at 1:12:58.
Legacy Line
Reese's ascent beats the 2015 Half Dome speed record Dean Potter set on May 3, 2015, which had stood for 11 years. The new time follows the same Grizzly Gully and Snake Dike line Potter used.
Half Dome's cables typically come down in October, which affects how climbers plan the route in any given season. Visitors interested in the cable route should check seasonal closures before planning a trip.
The takeaway
Speed records on established routes often come from repeated rehearsal and close study of a line, as Reese's 16 practice runs show. Climbers planning similar objectives can benefit from rehearsing each section of a route before attempting it.
Further reading
For more on the climbing routes in the region, explore National Parks coverage across California.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Active NorCal.
