Syed Shayaan Bakht, Gulf Today

Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has photos and video clips of his hiking trip in Yosemite National Park in California on Instagram.

The sport-enthusiastic Crown Prince shared details of his trek to the peak of Half Dome at the California National Park.

Sheikh Hamdan took almost 9 hours to reach the peak of Half Dome covering a distance of 34.49 km.

The trek to Half Dome is challenging. Rising nearly 5,000 feet above Yosemite Valley and 8,800 feet above sea level, Half Dome is a Yosemite icon and a great test for many hikers.

Though it is advised only for seasoned mountaineers, but a physically fit person can trek after obtaining a permit for trekking.

Trekkers are rewarded with exceptional views of Vernal and Nevada Falls, Liberty Cap, Half Dome, and—from the subdome and summit—panoramic views of Yosemite Valley and the High Sierra, often subduing their grueling climb.

Sheikh Hamdan, an avid lover of nature and animals, completed the full trek in 8 hours 57 minutes and 06 seconds, a record in itself.  Usually, people complete the trip in 10 to 12 hours.

The video showed Sheikh Hamdan spotting a bear, chasing a rattlesnake in the wilderness.

The Dubai Crown Prince also takes breathtaking photos and  videos of the waterfalls, animals and giant sequoias before scaling a steep 400 feet climb to the peak of Half Dome, the most challenging part of the trek.

In 2017, Sheikh Hamdan hiked at Yosemite National Park sharing videos and photos along with his entourage.  

The video of his trek went viral on social media. It garnered over 210,000 likes and 6,320 comments on Instagram.
His videos and photos usually garner thousands and thousands of likes and comments on social media platforms.
He has over 15.9 million followers on his Instagram account.
 
Hamdan’s Instagram bio reads, “Every picture has a story and every story has a moment that I'd love to share with you. Thanks and enjoy."