Half Dome Cables

If you are coming down that and go just outside the cables on the left side, it's over. Hitting the bottom may not be what kills you but sliding a couple thousand feet on large grain granite probably grated you into a remnant of your former self. The right side isn't quite the same abyss that the left side is, not as steep and may not be as certainly terminal... just my recollection.
 
Dunner said:
If you are coming down that and go just outside the cables on the left side, it's over. Hitting the bottom may not be what kills you but sliding a couple thousand feet on large grain granite probably grated you into a remnant of your former self. The right side isn't quite the same abyss that the left side is, not as steep and may not be as certainly terminal... just my recollection.
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Right at the cables it is steep enough that you do not slide, you tumble. The eyewitness accounts from last week confirm this. And going to the right at the saddle puts you on even steeper rock, at least 60 degrees. That will be some real tumbling, with long drops between impacts. Going left at the saddle puts you on almost vertical rock. Either way, head injuries will be fatal long before you reach the bottom.
 
If they are the same as they used to be, it is steep but not really scary in dry conditions.
Many years ago my sister did it at the age of 6 and my were no daredevils.
The problems seem to happen when the conditions get bad.
There are lot's of activities that get considerably more dangerous in wet and/or cold weather.
 
I'm too old for that thing. I'd be taking my time and using a safety clip.
 
Just out of curiosity, has anybody kept track of whether the people who have fallen were ascending or descending? I'd think descending would be scarier and more difficult!

BTW, you'd never catch me on that rock! :barf:

Thanks!
 
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