Half Dome Cables

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mycroftt

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Nov 13, 2002
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I apologize if this is the wrong forum to post this but I've read some posts here from top notch hikers who may be able to give some good advice. Please lock the thread or move it if it is inappropriate.

I was saddened to hear that a hiker this week fell to his death from the Half Dome Cable trail and I was surprised it was that treacherous. I knew it was a fairly rigorous hike but it's evident I had no real comprehension of the risks. Even looking at the online photos don't make it look that dangerous. Has anybody here climbed/hiked this route? Actually, I'm not quite sure if it should even be called a climb or a hike. I'd be interested to hear comments from anyone with good insight. Thanks.
 
I have hiked the half dome trail about 3 times in the last couple of years. it is a pretty steep trail and is pretty slippery at this time of year. I went to yosemite last week and there was alot of snow and ice high up in the mountains. the sad thing is that the park has this happen more than once a year. not just from half dome..if you are a sensable hiker you shouldn't have a problem. there is no reason to fall if you stay on the trail. people go out of the cables for pictures, or chase after a watter bottle they let go on accident.
 
mycroftt said:
Has anybody here climbed/hiked this route? Actually, I'm not quite sure if it should even be called a climb or a hike. I'd be interested to hear comments from anyone with good insight. Thanks.
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I have never had the chance to visit Yosemite, so I have not traveled that particular trail. However, there is a trail in Glacier NP (I forget the name off hand) which is not terribly strenuous to travel being mostly level, but it does have cables rigged along its length, too. The reason for the cables is that it traverses a sheer rock face with IIRC a drop of over 100 feet almost straight down. :eek:

I just mention that to show that dangerouse does not necessarily mean strenuous.
 
Having only seen pictures of Half Dome, I don't think it would be classified as particularly dangerous. Obviously you need to use caution when hiking, but some good forumite recently posted photos of a 10 year old on the hike so it can't be THAT bad....

FWIW, driving to work is dangerous too, but I don't that stops anyone from doing it....
 
The only real problem with the cables is that the constant wear of hundreds of people every day has made the rock under the cables fairly slick. But if you keep moving and hang onto the cables, you will be fine. Here are some pics from the last time I was there:
HalfDome2006015.jpg


HalfDome2006018.jpg


HalfDome2006020.jpg


It is a classic hike that everyone should do. With the high number of people who do it every day, the actual fatality rate is very low (about 50,000 people climb the cable route each year). Last year no one fell, the year before last three people died after falling off the cables. In each instance it is usually due to error. Two of those three were climbing in the off season when the cable supports were down, and were just hanging onto the cable that was lying on the rock. It had been raining and was slick. The other case was a guy who dropped his water bottle, bent down to try to retrieve it, and his feet slipped out. He slid into the cable support just below him, and the impact threw him out away from the cable and he tumbled down.

The case this week was during wet conditions.
 
I'd be worried that I'd get up there and freeze in my tracks. Wouldn't fall, but they might have to carry me off. Either that, or I'd never fear heights again.
 
Just a suggestion ... shoemakers use different compounds on their shoe soles. It might make sense to bring a few pair of shoes suitable for this climb and see how grippy they each are on the rock. One might grip much better than another especially if the rock is wet.
 
beautiful pics!!

maybe its the angle of the camera, but that looks pretty damn steep!
 
I haven't done it in many, many years but it didn't feel that hazardous at the time (mainly seemed steep). As others have noted, the fatality rate is low and often the result of an error in judgment.

DancesWithKnives
 
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It turns out that there were two falls last week. It sounds like both ended up on the same ledge (which is where one of 2007's fatalities stopped); this ledge seems to be a natural stopping point off the south side of the saddle, and if you go past it you will fall another thousand feet. The first was a woman who is now in critical condition, the second was the guy from San Ramon who was killed. Both cases involved attempting the cables in rain/hail.
 
I was in Yosemite this weekend, however the first news I heard of the accident was later that night on the news. We spent our time in the valley and Half Dome is pretty far away, so I'm not too surprised that we didn't hear anything. The park is simply beautiful and majestic, but this time of year it is incredibly crowded. The paths are well maintained, but given the sheer number of people, I'm not surprised that there are a few fatalities of this nature each year.
 
When I rowed the Grand Canyon years ago, they said the same thing: They lose one or two people a year out of around 22-24,000 who run the river. With that many people exposed to risk, it's not shocking that there are some tragedies.

DancesWithKnives
 
I've hiked it a few times. The level of complexity and danger really depends on your fitness level and preparedness. It can be easy for some and outright shouldn't be attempted by others.

Not everyone is prepared physically, mentally or clothing wise for the long hike. When it gets cold, slippery and the wind picks up, some people realize that they are dangerously out of their element. Every year, people make part of the climb, then decide that they can't finish it and call the ranger station from their cell phones for rescue.

Weather conditions are very important as well, wet weather and winds make it dangerous and I am absolutely terrified of lightning strikes.
 
lambertiana said:
It turns out that there were two falls last week. It sounds like both ended up on the same ledge (which is where one of 2007's fatalities stopped); this ledge seems to be a natural stopping point off the south side of the saddle, and if you go past it you will fall another thousand feet. The first was a woman who is now in critical condition, the second was the guy from San Ramon who was killed. Both cases involved attempting the cables in rain/hail.
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Right, I remember hearing about the second, because he was from the Bay Area. Sounds to me like extremely bad judgment to attempt half-dome in rain/hail, experienced or not. When is the best time to do this hike?
 
rksoon said:
Right, I remember hearing about the second, because he was from the Bay Area. Sounds to me like extremely bad judgment to attempt half-dome in rain/hail, experienced or not. When is the best time to do this hike?
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The best time to do the hike is after Labor Day. The crowds have thinned out and you can easily find a campsite in the valley. Then you can get up before dawn and be there at the start of the trail, rather than still having a long drive before you get there. September weather is normally very good, the summer thunderstorms are usually history by then. The flow in the Merced River is way down, so you don't get the wet slippery trail if you decide to take the mist trail.

The cables are usually taken down after Columbus Day. The cables are still there, but they take down the posts.
 
If you're a lazy bastid like me, you can also backpack up into Little Yosemite Valley a day before. This gets some of the climb behind you and lets you acclimate a little more. Like John says about the main valley, there are usually open camp spots in Little Yosemite Valley in Sept. I passed through there on a 9-day late-season backpack last year and it was fine.

DancesWithKnives
 
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