The Problem with Half Dome | Yosemite National Park
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ต.ค. 2024
- Yosemite park ranger sets the record straight before turning hikers lose on Half Dome's cables.
There has been a troubling uptick in emergency incidents on the Yosemite's Half Dome, specifically the Half Dome cables. Hear what the ranger has to say.
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My wife and I just ascended these cables for the first time less than a month ago. It was important for us to be as safe as possible, and that meant using a harness/via Ferrata and beating the crowd to avoid unprepared and frightened climbers, which are present every single day on Half Dome.
We hiked from the valley floor at a little after 11pm and ascended the cables in the dark. We had them all to ourselves. We moved up the cables far faster than average, with no rest except for our brief clip-ins/outs. It was a no-brainer to do so.
There was one gentleman at the summit who passed us on the trail as we ate and rested briefly, exchanging niceties.
Our descent was smooth, crossing paths with only a small handful of ascenders. One of them was absolutely frozen with fear, and an example of the exact type of person we were glad to have avoided as a result of having planned as we did. She was amongst the first 20 people attempting the ascent that day, and there were certainly plenty more behind her in the coming hours.
The ranger in this video came off as a bit of a blowhard with his advisory against safety equipment. You cannot control what happens as a result of others’ decisions and execution. This is your life. You dictate how to ensure that it continues. It’s simply foolish to admonish and attempt to persuade summit candidates to be complacent with their safety and their lives.
Train. Prepare. Plan. Enjoy. And happy adventuring!
This is a great message to get out there, and I hope it gets out there. I am glad the park service is doing an orientation now when they check your permit. That wasn’t the case when I summited in 2021.
In my sole journey to Half Dome, I witnessed near misses, unprepared and careless hikers, and hikers that should have had the awareness to turnaround. On my descent, I was stuck on the cables for well over an hour. There was individual in a group having a panic attack going down. I won’t go into specifics but how the group went about getting that person down but people at risk.
I am neutral on clipping on and off if you know how to the use the gear. I feel it is much more a protection against others than it is protection against one falling.
Im surprised it has taken this long to have a formal orientation - back in the 90s they used to have a giant pile of gloves for people as well as 1 or 2 guides at the base helping people get situated - given the crowds were astronomically less - dont know if that was just an informal thing because when I went back in the 2000s - that wasn't the case anymore. I've done this trail 5 times over 30 or so years - first time when I was 9 years old - having said that - there is NO WAY anybody can blame The Cables. And Yea I hear ya - last time I was there this in 2020 an obese woman from another country had a panic attack on the way down - and because she was so big nobody could go around her in either direction and we were stuck for over an hour as well - me and my buddy had to physically and emotionally help her down 3/4 of the cables while fighting a language barrier - her skinny little husband was less than useless - after that - I told myself it would be last time I hiked the cables.
@@thedjmbenga1 I went up the cables in 2007 and going up was good since it was early enough in the day that there wasn't the crowds coming down. However after being on top resting for quite some time and just taking it all in, on the way down which was easy going ( I went forward down using both cables when it was clear ) until there was an issue with a dad who was forcing his teenage daughter up the cables but she was at the brink of total failure mentally and physically when I passed them and those going up were trying to get around them and those going down ... you know how it is. A group of us random hikers at the bottom of the cables discussed the situation we had witnessed and couldn't believe that a dad could be that much of a goal oriented idiot to put his daughter in that awful of a situation. I bet in the situation you found yourself stuck with having to deal with, your still wondering how that obese person ever made it up the trail to even BE on the cables and to get to the top no less and then freak out about it !. I could be wrong but I have the feeling that its this pass business that is causing those that get a pass to feel compelled to climb the cables even though they should not, simply because of probably never getting another opportunity unless one happens to have easy at the moment access to the park so that if and when one finally gets a pass again, to hike it once again to do the cables that time.
That ranger clearly did not care that she was from Houston Texas
I laughed at that part! She was alarmingly peppy about getting that out there for all to hear too!
@@blanejr1 Yes, that's a testament to the insanely rampant and selfish Narcissism that too many folks indulge in, these days.
@@swithinbarclay4797 "insanely rampant and selfish Narcissism..." problem is they outnumber the rest of us. I spend most of my time trying to avoid those people, and it's hard!
Neither does Half Dome.
Don't Mess With Tex....THE RANGER!
Excellent advice!!! HOWEVER with one GLARING exception☹️ Advising against clip in protection!!!
Don’t understand his comment of if you want to use safety equipment (a harness and carabiner) you shouldn’t do the hike. That could’ve saved Grace and should be required tbh.
There's an unspoken reason why people are sometimes discouraged from using a harness and carabiner. It's because the constant unclipping and re-clipping slows things down. But speed should never be more important than safety.
I’ve hiked to the top of half dome several times. I’m no thrill junkie and I play it safe. My first time up, my goal was to make it t the cables, look at it and decide then if I wanted to do the cables. (I have a fear of heights). I sat and looked at the cables for probably a half hour, and decided it was safe.
The cables are safe (without any climbing harness, etc) as long as the weather is good, people on the cables don’t make it dangerous (2 or 3 times I made it to the cables but decided not to summit because the people on the cables made me nervous, or because the weather did) and you are reasonably fit. Just the opinion of someone who’s done the hike several times and who avoids dangerous situations.
I agree extra safety should be encouraged . I would rather be alive and have to wait then be dead and broken . I think the park ranger guide comment was incorrect and should be educated on safety. Not all of us are young and think things through.
@michelleevans9869 sounds like you shouldn't attempt it at all.
A standard carabiner will fail when it hits the stanchion by breakin the gate off !
One should use standard Via Ferrata harness's and shock load tethers if anything at all. LOOK IT UP
When the ranger says no climbing gear, does he also include a harness and carabiner? I consider those an essential for most people to ascend the cables. I'm a competent hiker and class 3 scrambler, but after my first ascent of the cables I decided I would bring a harness and clip if I ever to it again, and I recommend it for anyone planning to hike Half Dome. My hands and arms were massively fatigued from hanging on to the cable, and I was more concerned about anything happening to the people around me than myself. With that many people in one space the possibilities of something happening is very high. On the way down I saw hikers going outside the cables to pass. Going outside the cables to relieve the crowding in line is not so bad if one is attached by a harness.
Yes he does. He's a total idiot. He thinks safety is less important than the very slight delay caused by using proper equipment.
I can see that climbing gear is discouraged, especially for those who don't know how to use it, or those who aren't climbers. If folks choose to use safety gear, they should learn to use it correctly. Redundancy is core concept in climbing safely, because crap does happen. Also, climbing efficiently is a part of good climbing technique, which means using your feet/legs more since they are stronger than your hands/arms. If your arms and hands are pumped, than you are likely using arms and hands more than your legs, and that 'will' slow you down.
As an experienced technical rock and ice climber, if I did this hike, I'd use safety gear such as Via Ferrata type gear. Having safety gear in place will help me keep my focus on climbing the cable section of this hike.
My bet is the rock surface outside of the cables are less polished/smooth than the rock surface between the cables.
@@HawaiiGirlAdventures Yeah I'm not a climber and I would use via ferrata gear. Whatever they were using did not look correct, especially only have 1 lanyard.
The way the Ranger says " if you need climbing equipment you probably shouldn't be going up." WTF? It pressures people into not wanting to look weak by being safe. Fucking crazy. It's like the Park is feeding the curse
This message needs to be reworded. For the most part, I agree. The biggest problem is his message is contradictory. He preaches the need to be patient and good but then he proceeds to chastize and polks fun at people who choose to use safety equipment. Like really, prove with actual statistics that it significantly slows forward progress using safety equipmrnt. When it's congested, it literally is at a stand still for 10 or more minutes at a time. I get the gist of his message: one should be mentally and physically strong. Safety gear should not be used as a substitute for deficiencies. This I agree with. To me, he is disregarding the obvious facts. The facts are, a good many of these hikers have deficiencies in both areas! Instead of tying it to the safety gear, preparedness should be 100% independent of safey gear. In other words, unprepared people are climbing it everyday! Just because one is not using safety equipment in no way implies that somehow they are prepared. This is the fallacy of his speech. In a way, it asserts that those who don't must be prepared and those who do are not. Obviously the stats prove otherwise. You only ever hear about the fatalities, never the close calls. This is why fall restraint or fall arrest systems should be reccommended. For the unprepared, it will allow you to rest up little by little as you move along. Untill someone can show me statiscally that indeed, harnesses are moe deadly, I stand by using sagety gear. As it stands, it's 9 for the "prepared" and unharnessed and ZERO for those who use harnesses. Go figure...seems pretty one way doesnt it?
It feels like these natural wonders are being treated like theme park rides by some people, and that is dangerous not just for their safety, but for the preservation of these beautiful natural treasures.
What you say is very true. People keep treating hikes like rollercoasters. No restraints, no safety insurances. Not a place for the idly curious or those just looking for bucketlist checkmarks.
Surprised there was such an emphasis on patience and politeness.
I did Angel’s Landing just before they required permits. Some of the people going up Angel’s Landing were a complete joke. Dressed for an instagram photo shoot. Women in dress and huge beach hats. Guys in untied shoes, etc.
Wait a minute. Why on earth would he discourage the use of protective gear???? It's a speed thing? That sounds utterly foolish.
Hot shot
That just hurts my heart that the park dude had to even say such simple things...you too.....WHY and WHEN did people get so stupid? But, thank the good Lord for people like you......
Those people aren't stupid, they've never been taught, they're ignorant (and there's a lot of them) ...essentially if someone on IG does something, then they think they can just go do the same...it's easy...or it's natural selection...
I don't understand a ranger telling people to not use a clip and harness. I do not get that!
If you need safety equipment you shouldn't be doing this - probably the stupidest thing that could be said. People can fall on you, you can slip unexpectedly, it is safer with safety equipment no matter how qualified you are to do it. The park's attitude against safety equipment is dangerous and has contributed to deaths on this mountain. Maybe teach people how to properly use safety equipment, and consider the fact that these "stupid" things as he calls them like people death gripping might be less of a problem if they were roped in.
Right on. Just for putting that attitude out among the would be hikers discourages safety. The Park should be liable if it discourages safety gear.
My first time going will be September 15th. I'm going to wear a harness.
I plan on doing the same thing whenever I can get a permit. There should be no other way to summit to be honest. I value my life and those around me and I want to come home in one piece to share my experiences
Good decision. After my 1st summit I decided if I ever do it again to wear a harness and clip. It will reduce so much anxiety and doubt.
For 40 years I've watched natural wonders turn into "places for everyone". Half Dome doesn't have a problem, some people just shouldn't be on it! There is no elevator to the top of Half Dome and why that may sound callous the reality is that the natural world doesn't owe anyone safe passage. The park service is now being tasked with acting as the safety police up there and that is not the way to do this! Edify would be hikers before they start, then let them be adults! No one owns Half Dome so respect it and tread smart.
So wrong for the park ranger to discourage use of protective equipment. That would have saved a number of lives. How could it hurt?? INSANE
A concise yet, firm stance and encouraging outlook would have made all the difference with his pitch. If someone's offended then, they likely need the advise the most because, after that any valuable information will just frustrate them and they will throw it all out the window. Bad call.
Do you know the correct way to put on a climbing harness? Does every one?
@@timothyreed8417 Why not use the presentation to make sure they have their gear figured out rather than calling people using gear "stupid" and telling them they shouldn't be there?
He should not be discouraging protective gear. And people keep your drones and music at home. It’s the outdoors let us keep it quiet and peaceful
@@stevesmith756
Should he be responsible to show people how to use the gear?
I see a lot of similarities with the problems I see at some of the skiing areas I go to, especially out on the east coast. Overcrowded, people on trails they have no business being on for their ability level, stopping and causing logjams and dangerous traffic for the skiers that actually know what they are doing, social media photo ops, etc. It's not really even that fun to ski at certain times anymore because you have to have your head on a swivel and be more worried about what everyone else is doing vs. enjoying skiing the terrain and enjoying the elements. I've started only skiing midweek now to avoid the crowds now that the sport is getting popular again and there are way too many people that try to go on trails that are beyond their ability just so they can say they did the mountains hardest trail or skied the double diamond, etc. Anytime I ski on the weekends now there are crazy crowds and I see quite a few people get injured.
People simply overestimate themselves and underestimate nature.
My husband and I are in our 50s and know that the strenuous day hike option is NOT for us. We have a wilderness permit, from a Half Dome optional trailhead in July. We are advid backpackers and will camp close to the base of Half Dome the night before. We plan to get up early and get to the cables before the vast majority of day hikers. We know we won't be as fast as the 20 year olds on the cables so getting to the cables early will be key for us not being in their way. That being said, we have been training and conditioning for this trip. And kuddos to the ranger about the stupid blue tooth speakers and drones! He's right! No one wants to hear your crappy music...LOL!
@@eric_schaaf....it went well. We made it! Weather was perfect and the cables weren't crowded. Everyone was super supportive and kind to each other going up and down the cables. Finally achieved something that I've been wanting to do since I was a teenager.
@@karencaskey6210 I was reading through these comments and came to yours and had to commend you on being able to follow through and make the hike and have those memories. Also that you made mention of others around you and your positive interaction with them. I had hiked the trail in 2007 so before all this permit business and as a day hike that is, and to be very honest I had so little prior information on the trail period as it was a comment from a relative who had been in the park a few years before and had hiked part of the trail but had to turn around as his knees were killing him. I was 42 at the time but zero so called prior strength training for a hike like this ( just a hick farmer from western Canada LOL ) and you bet my butt was dragging at times going up all those stair steps and have lung damage from pneumonia from long ago that doesn't do me any favours. Never the less I did make it to the top and rested for some time as I was bagged ... knowing I had all that way back to go. On the way down the trail I over stressed a knee with all the impacts of going down and then I was struggling and it hurt ... I was Mr Gimpy then. But the fact is it was all the people interactions I had along the way on that trail which made the experience far more fulfilling than just the hike, funny how that works sometimes. Oh and some time later a different relate that lives in Cali heard that I had hiked that trail to the top and she was blown away because she and her husband would train and train doing lots of hiking and her stair master etc as this was their so called ultimate day hike they did a few times over the years ( so I learned then ).
Good for you! I have been up many times over several decades, including taking newcomers along with me. Every time we base camped in Little Yosemite Valley or up on Sunrise Creek had an early start after a good breakfast in order to avoid the parade of day hikers coming up from the Valley and to have plenty of time on top or come down before PM thunderstorms could build up. Happy trails and best wishes.
I've summited twice. What the Ranger was mentioning--and most of that--was somehow common sense that I instinctively used on my two trips. He shouldn't have had to mention basic etiquette, but yet, he had to. Too many folks no longer know, nor care about how to behave in public these days, and believe you me, I do know that people were more sensible, in the "old days". Among other things, that's why we have far more vehicle wrecks and pedestrian incidents on our streets and highways, than is allowable(?) (searching for a better word).
I've been down the trail twice, in may when the cables were still flat on the rock. No problem.
Yes I did it once like this. Quite easy and I am planning to go again when permit season is over, but I wouldn't take my children up there out of season.
Hi. Got permits for July. 2nd time making the hike. The first time, my hiking shoes slipped quite a bit. Any recommendations for shoes that are less likely to slip?
Well, people *are* dumber now. So there's that.
Many years ago my friend and I climbed these cables during winter, when the route was closed and the cables were laid down on the rock . We had no idea and thought it was normal .
We each took a cable and looked like the old Batman and Robin TV show. I recommend not doing this. We had to find rest spots on thick cracks where we could stick our feet in and lay on the slope 😮.
That's amazing! Thanks for sharing.
I did this off season too. Hardly anyone else there. Didn't try resting on the cables though.
Couldn't they resurface those very slick granite spots? Maybe use a air powered chisel or something. Just to rough up the surface?
Of all the great technologies and all kinds of fees collected at all levels….why don’t the park admin do a better job constructing a safer path with better safety measures etc…so more people can enjoy without so many people injured or dead….
Those makeshift cables are just sad and waiting for disaster to happen…
Are you allowed to go past that Ranger checkpoint to the top of the sub dome without a permit? Just missed out on the lottery but wish to get to that point right before the cables, its vague on the website but says you can hike to that point, is that correct? Or do you have to turn back at that ranger checkpoint
A permit is required for both the subdome (section leading up to the cables) and the cables that themselves. Unfortunately, you will not be allowed past the ranger without a permit.
I advise trying the daily lottery if you are going to be in Yosemite. That’s how I got my last permit.
It was way safer before social media.
A full 3 minutes of a picture of the ground………WOW! 🤔😩
He’s being respectful to the Ranger but ensuring we hear the message. Not everyone wants to be on TH-cam.
I would like to add to the ranger’s message, and that is, don’t come to half dome and think oh yeah we get to climb half dome!!! FOR PEOPLE WHO CLIMB HALF DOME NEED TO TAKE THE RANGER’S MESSAGE EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY. IF YOU DON’T FOLLOW EVERY ONE OF THE RULES, THEN I HOPE THEY JUST SHUT IT DOWN ALL TOGETHER. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS AS SOMETHING THAT IS ON YOUR BUCKET LIST…DON’T. YOU NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL IF YOU EVEN GOT PAST THE TRAIL AT ALL THEN I AM TELLING YOU TO THINK MORE ABOUT WHAT YOURE DOING THAN HOW FUN IT WILL BE. BECAUSE YOU CAN DIE. DON’T THINK THAT IT’S SOMEONE ELSE THAT DIES, NO YOU COULD DIE.
How many people climb Half Dome each year with No Problem?
Hey I can't wait to get in a line to do what EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING ! Highly
Laughable
I will enter a lottery shuffle for 3 days I'll be there, but how likely is "hike to subdome and ask a ranger" work, if, clearly, there is a sign to walk away? For some people it isn't "one in a lifetime" thing, for sure, but people like me wouldn't go again just to cross bucket list ascent.
I didn't expect to hear that much good advice from the park service. Happy to hear it though. Especially him being against the stupid climbing gear stuff. If one is that scared...then stay at HOME. It's modern society. Trouble was very rare before the past 20 years. People used to be polite and didn't go if it was too "scary".
A bit contradictory: be patient, yet don’t be slower due to using a life saving harness and clipping in.
It’s bad advice, IMO. The weather can turn and it may hail, rain, snow, wind gusts, etc.. In these conditions clipping in may save lives and help people go down instead of freezing in place.
The advice probably should be to 1) bring the climbing equipment with you, in case you need to use it and 2) know how to use the equipment.
I also disagree with staying inside the cable channel. I’ve seen in videos people using the outside of the channel as a passing lane, and it’s a good way to relieve traffic jams. As long as you communicate and make sure people are ok for you to pass them, and of course exercise caution when passing, it will help avoid traffic jams that can put many people in danger, for example in the case of a thunderstorm.
All that being said, the orientation is an excellent idea. Everyone should be briefed on proper technique, communication protocols, etc.. But I’d go further than that and require a certification that ensures a base level of fitness and a written test, in order to qualify for the permit. This will also alleviate the crowding issue by only having people up there who are fit enough, and know proper technique and protocols.
It's not contradictory. With or without harnesses people travel at different speeds. Being patient is a non-negotiable MUST. The cable route is precarious. If people can't be patient and courteous, they don't belong anywhere near the cables or summit.
@@HomeInWildSpaces Yes agree with that. What I meant is that using a safety line WILL slow you down especially if using prusiks and two lines, so if you’re impatient in wanting to go down quickly, for example to beat a storm or catch a shuttle or what have you, it would be contradictory in that sense to use the safety lines as they will slow you down. But yes, the proper advice is to be patient and courteous, and imo bring a safety line and know how to use it, at the very least just in case the weather turns or there are people above you who are a risk.
Hopefully, I get my permit.I'll know april 11 like everybody else.
Best of luck! I've never actually drawn in the pre-season lottery. Always had to get a permit another way.
@@HomeInWildSpaces Thank you. I had my fingers crossed.
Did you get it? I just got my confirmation and missed out 😢
@@lewist8376No unfortunately I did not get it either
They know the dangers.
great video/ next time get the Ranger on camera! i get not wanting to bother the tourists but the Ranger really should be ok with it if you can keep the others out of the shot/ good message/ sad he even has to mention that yes Animals will EAt your food and yes you have to take your stuff back down, drones , the basic rules/ ugh.. people should know better/ Half Dome is one Rox and i have no interest in due to the crowds, the permit and really the cables are just too much for us especially for a day hike// Cloud's rest has been a fine alternative a few times. I could probably make it but i would be so uncomfortable on those cables i have to just say nope ill skip this one. point being even some of us backpackers who do all kinds of tough hikes have to say this one has extra challenges that make it too much... thanks for spreading the word about just how tough it is
What happens people just tire right out pulling up that thing?? More people have probably died than they talk about…
No, not another half baked conspiracy. The Park has been transparent on this issue and there are Independent sources that report on this. What would be the point of covering it up? Educating a far too uninformed public has the benefit of making the risks known.
What a peach!
Rangers should not discourage people from using protective equipment like a harness and via ferrata gear. That is bull shiite.
It's not that difficult. It never has been. Lots of humans just need their mommies.
Isn't this a collision of cultures and something that will never be resolved? There's those that naturally are drawn to the outdoors and then there's those that do it because it's now fashionable.
It's a worldwide problem. Btw I don't do selfies, see the need to go anywhere to take one or see some 'thing' and the 'bucket list' idea is a con.
Hikers and climbers? Rock climbers aren't the ones making dumb mistakes. It's Timmy and Tammy the tourist who make bad judgements.
Not true. The first major emergency incident was a rock climber along Snake Dike. Yosemite has also seen an increase of rock climbing emergencies.
Hikers and climbers both need to step up their game.
I was gonna say... "Professional" rock climbers/hikers make mistakes and poor decisions alllll the time. Usually because they're too overconfident
The iso on your camera is too high.
Thanks for the feedback. This is an HDR video. If your device does not support HDR, or your are running on low power mode, or TH-cam does not recognize your non HDR device, the highlights can appear blown out.
If you view the video in HDR, the exposure should appear normal.
@@HomeInWildSpaces oh. I did not know that. Thanks.
Take down the cables……
Its 2024 and we have flying cars but the way up there is so primitive. One way govt trying to depopulate
Flying cars are prohibited in the park. I support that.
Dude seems like a bit of a tool
Long winded
That Half Dome needs to be shut down..... Period...