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The Kalins smile at the top of Half Dome.
(Photo: Courtesy of Sidney Kalin)

A 93-Year-Old Man Hiked Up Yosemite鈥檚 Half Dome

The nonagenarian proved that age truly is just a number

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(Photo: Courtesy of Sidney Kalin)

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Proving the old adage that age is just a number, a 93-year-old man recently聽reached the 8,800-foot summit of Half Dome at Yosemite National Park.

Everett Kalin, a retired theology professor from Oakland, California, finished the difficult hike on Tuesday, July 18,聽. He reached the top with the help of his 57-year-old son, Jon, and his 19-year-old granddaughter, Sidney.

They carried supplies so that Kalin only had to tote his water bladder.

鈥淚 guess I was pleasantly surprised when I got up there. I did not feel that I was huffing and puffing so much as we went up,鈥 Everett Kalin told ABC News. 鈥淚t felt pretty good.鈥

Left: Everett Kalin uses two parallel metal cables to hike up Half Dome. Right: The three Kalins walk together on Half Dome.
(Photo: Courtesy of Sidney Kalin)

In the months leading up to the climb, Kalin trained by walking up the stairs in his 17-story Oakland apartment building, and by taking regular聽walks around Lake Merritt,聽.

鈥淗e鈥檚 stubborn as a mule. When he sets his mind to something, he鈥檚 going to do it,鈥 Jon Kalin聽told SFGate. 鈥淗e kept proving me wrong every step of the way.鈥

A video that Sidney posted of her grandfather reaching the summit has more than 15 million views on TikTok. In the 12-second clip, the 93-year-old pauses for a moment to steady his footing. Then, he and his son take a few triumphant steps to the top. The hikers behind him clap and cheer as he celebrates his accomplishment.

July 18th, Everett Kalin became the oldest known person to climb Yosemite鈥檚 Half Dome at 93 years old. Words cannot describe how proud I am. Opa, it was an honor to take on this trip with you. I hope this stands as a lesson to everyone that you are never too young or old to achieve your dreams.


The trio spent three days in the park, according to SFGate. They started in Curry Village, then camped overnight at Little Yosemite Valley. On the second day, they went to the top of Half Dome and back down over a 13-hour period. On the last day, they descended from Little Yosemite Valley to the valley floor.

Described as an 鈥渆xciting, arduous hike,鈥 the 14- to 16-mile round trip to Half Dome 鈥渋s not for you if you鈥檙e out of shape or unprepared,鈥澛. Every summer, park rangers rescue hundreds of people who cannot complete the trek.

There鈥檚 no way to know if Everett Kalin is the oldest person to summit Half Dome, because the park does not keep records on the ages of hikers, a Yosemite spokesperson said.

Speaking from his home in Oakland the next day, Kalin聽told聽SFGate聽that he wasn鈥檛 even feeling sore. 鈥淭hat was fantastic. Just super,鈥 he said. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e 93, it’s a little extra special.鈥

Everett Kalin and his granddaughter Sidney smile at the top of Half Dome.

Isabella Rosario is an associate editor at聽翱耻迟蝉颈诲别.听She is based in southeast Iowa.

Lead Photo: Courtesy of Sidney Kalin

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