Hiking to the top of Half Dome is
one of the most popular hikes in Yosemite National Park. The iconic
granite monolith, at 8,842 feet above sea level, attracts people from
all over the world who attempt to climb to the summit. Most visitors
ascend Half Dome via the cables, which are in place from mid-May through
mid-October.
Approximately 84,000 people climbed to the top of Half Dome in 2008.
Although there are several trailheads leading to the cables on Half
Dome, the majority of visitors start their hike at the Happy Isles
Trailhead in Yosemite Valley.
The increase in popularity of the hike has resulted in large numbers of
visitors using the cables, particularly on weekends and holidays. During
last summer, Saturdays and holidays averaged 840 visitors per day. On
peak days, visitor numbers were estimated at 1100 to 1200. This increase
has resulted in significant safety concerns. Specifically, there was
both a visitor fatality and a visitor who sustained serious injuries on
the cables during two consecutive crowded weekends last summer. This
increase in use has also impacted the resources and has negatively
affected the visitor experience. For example, visitors have had to wait
up to an hour to ascend the cables on a busy day.
In an effort to address these issues, the park will institute an interim
program that will require a Day Use Permit to hike the cables on Half
Dome on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays starting in May, 2010.
Four hundred permits will be issued per day, 300 of these will be Day
Use Permits and 100 will be included in wilderness permits. These
permits are required for the use of the trail from the base of the
Subdome to the summit of Half Dome and include the Half Dome cable
route.
The Half Dome Day Use Permits will be available starting March 1, 2010
through www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Each person
climbing the Half Dome cables will be required to have their own permit.
Up to four permits may be obtained under one reservation. The permits
are free, however, there is a non-refundable $1.50 service charge for
each permit obtained.
For additional details see
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hdpermits.htm
During this interim program,
visitor use and impacts to the park will be monitored. Yosemite National
Park Rangers will be studying visitor use and safety, assessing the
visitor experience, and compiling data that will be analyzed by park
managers. At this point, the interim program will be in effect for the
2010 visitor season, as well as the 2011 visitor season. An
Environmental Assessment process for a long-term plan for the Half Dome
Cables will begin public scoping in spring 2010.
