Too many climbers make Half Dome dangerous

[Sandman]

"It is very easy to become dehydrated or lose your footing, so people should not attempt this hike lightly."
The cables allowing trail access to the summit of Half Dome are now in place for the season. via My Mother Lode (http://www.mymotherlode.com/News/article/kvml/1179873889)


More... (http://www.topix.net/city/yosemite-national-park-ca/2007/05/half-dome-cables-in-place-at-yosemite-national-park)

[BGW]

<TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff>Hiker slips, dies on Half Dome


</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<HR noShade SIZE=1>
By EMILIE RAGUSO
eraguso@modbee.com (eraguso@modbee.com)

Hiking down from a summit is usually the easy part.
But the normally 20-minute trek down the Half Dome cables in Yosemite National Park took an hour Saturday afternoon, after hikers at the top heard terrifying news from below.
"Call 911, someone's fallen," people called up the slope, said Nelson Page, 27, of Modesto. He ran down the steep incline, with one hand on a safety cable, to see whether he could help.
Hikers stood frozen from shock and fear, Page said, so he ran down the outside of the cables to pass them.
But when he neared the site of the fall, it was too late.
Hirofumi Nohara, 37, of Japan, was ascending Half Dome mid afternoon when he slipped and fell, Yosemite park ranger Adrienne Freeman said. He was pronounced dead at the scene, she said. Nohara did not appear to be doing anything unsafe, according to the initial investigation by the National Park Service.

MORE: http://www.modbee.com/local/story/13701680p-14289760c.html

[BGW]

MercedSunStar.com

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/local/story/13770654p-14352059c.html


The Associated Press
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK — Hordes of tourists are clogging the cable handrails on the slope leading up Yosemite's iconic Half Dome, delaying climbers and frustrating serious athletes who say the unprepared masses have made the hike unpleasant and downright dangerous.
The number of weekend and holiday Half Dome climbers has increased 30 percent since the mid-1990s, according to park officials. In the past year, three people have been killed on the grueling 8.6-mile hike, which begins in the Yosemite Valley and ascends to the 8,842-foot Half Dome.
The most recent fatality was June 16, when Japanese native Hirofumi Nohara, 37, lost his footing and slid off the side of Half Dome while horrified climbers watched.
Outdoor enthusiasts say accidents could increase as more day trippers attempt the climb in inappropriate garb — sneakers and sandals instead of hiking boots, saggy jeans instead of climbing pants, handheld water bottles instead of canteens in backpacks.
They also say some climbers are too old, young or unfit to climb the trail, which has numerous warning signs, gains 4,733 feet and concludes with a 400-foot, nearly 50-degree slope of slick granite.
"What surprises me is the lack of concern for safety," said Alan Henderson, a 40-year-old native of Scotland, who wore a climbing harness and clipped himself onto the cable using metal hooks. "There are people up here with just tennis shoes. If you slip, you are a goner."
The summit has been a climbing challenge since Oct. 12, 1875, when George Anderson drilled iron eyebolts and rope into the dome and reached the top. The Sierra Club installed the steel cables in 1919.
An average 12 people die in Yosemite annually.
The three people who died in the past year were the only fatalities on Half Dome in decades, park spokeswoman Adrienne Freeman said. Others were the result of heart attacks, lightning strikes or parachute accidents.
But park officials acknowledge that more inexperienced climbers are trying to get to the summit without proper clothes or preparation.
Rangers will begin collecting data on crowding and other issues next year. "We are seeing a change in the pattern of visitor behavior up there," Freeman said. "What this tells us is that we have to start asking some questions. Are more people driving to Yosemite in the morning and trying to climb Half Dome in a day? Are people coming prepared? Are they acclimated? Are they rushing because of time limitations?"
<!-- Component: MercedSunStar : component/story_elements/story_table_no_tools.comp -->

Posted on 07/09/07 00:00:00
http://www.mercedsun-star.com/local/story/13770654p-14352059c.html
<!-- Component: MercedSunStar : component/story_elements/story_table_no_tools.comp -->

[Ironhorse]

I would think instead of asking the questions they might need to start figuring out what to do to stop people from climbing who are not properly equipped for the conditions found there. The world abounds with foolish people anymore, and unfortunately, when they get hurt, it's "everyone's fault but their own". They expect everyone else to keep them from killing themselves.

[Yosemite_Wolf]

well... they should take down the climbing ladder... that only invites untrained climbers to climb. Leave the rock climbing to trained persons. I personally think it was idiotic to put up a "ladder" so untrained persons could say they conquered Half Dome. Too many people look at climbing up this ladder thingie as the "rock walls" that are so prevelant and popular on cruise ships and carnivals.

[Tim2121]

One of the climbers who died was in good shape from the San Franciso bay area. She died because she was going up before they but the cables up. The other one was a Japanese man in his thirties who fell and people said he was doing nothing wrong. Probably just was not in good enough shape. Half Dome is not like Everest where too many climbers make it a lot more dangerous. It is just that too many unpreparded hikers try Half Dome. I do not know anything about the third. People need to be educated about how hard and dangerous Half Dome is. I saw a few people on the top of Half Dome on the 4th of July when I was hiking around Glacier Point. Not a smart thing to do when it is so hot. People were hiking the 4 mile round trip from Glacier Point to the Waterfall and back without enough liquids. Bass Lake has a creek that an average of one person a year dies even though not that many people visit that creek. If the cables are not put up a lot more people would probably die because a lot of people would try it even without the cables. Too Dangerous without cables.

[Yosemite_Wolf]

sorry to disagree.. but i think the cables make the climb look easier. with out the cables, ppl dont have the ability, skills, or equipment to climb half dome. by putting up cables... you are inviting ppl to climb despite their lack of ability. The cables make it look like DisneyLand... which it Isn't.

[Tim2121]

I think the park service knows better then you. People hike to the top of Half Dome when the cables are down like the lady from the Bay Area that was a good hiker that fell to her death. A lot of amatures and pros will still hike Half Dome if the cables are down all year. I know of other places than have a cable and a pole that makes it safer for hikers. There is a cable the goes up along the side of a waterfall of a 12 mile hike in Big Basin State Park in the Santa Cruz mountains that would have people falling to their death or getting injured if there was no cable. I never heard of anybody falling where the cable is in Big Basin. Also there is a long pole that helps hikers up Camel Back Mountain in Arizona. I never heard of any body falling where the pole is. Without this pole people would fall to their death or injure them selfs. Do you think that people should not have safety handles in their showers and if they do not want to take a shower with out safety handles they should not take showers and just take sponge baths?

[Sandman]

The news just mentioned a hiker death in Yosemite today. Details on the 10PM news on KMPH Fox 26. :(

[Dodgergirl]

Yeah, I saw that. Sad, but I'm gonna still do this. The cables are down now, so I'll need to wait until next year, and the planned date is near the end of July/beginning of August... I'll continue with the training and conditioning, but I still think I may use some sort of safety gear...

from my myspace...

OK, so I've had some serious interest from some people, so I set up a myspace page to coordinate hikes and such... I'll try to link it here, or look in my friends and see where to add...will get some pics soon...

I've been challenged to be in shape to hike Half Dome next summer (most likely July) and plan on being ready! I've been preparing by going for at least one hike a week since the original challenge.... I went with a few people today and hiked the Lewis Creek Trail. Lots of fun and some pretty good pictures, too... So, if you wanna join me on my weekly hikes, or go with us in July (I know it's a long time away, but we gotta get in shape for this...) let me know so we can coordinate...
The plan is to hike in and camp near the base so we can get a fresh start in the morning to hit the cables...then possibly, camp that night to celebrate our victory!
I'm happy to have experienced hikers with me, and for them to guide me in my training for this endeavor...They seem to know all of the tricks and have a great plan...Looks like this will take place on a Monday/Tuesday and possibly Wednesday morning....
So far I've received encouragement on this, with only one person telling me I'd never make it....
Anyone have any suggestions or tips on this plan?