Four deaths have occurred in Yosemite since 2006, all climbing up to the very same spot: Half Dome.
Visitors must venture up a very steep trail and take a cable the cliffside. The rock can be wet slippery and extremely dangerous.
So why are there so few restrictions? So few rules when visitors attempt this fatal hike?
The trail up Half Dome is a steep one, but also one that requires no permits and is very accessible to all visitors to the park.
Even extremely unprepared, inexperienced hikers.
But no one stops them. I mean come on – the park should at least require proper footwear before allowing these “hikers” to venture up the cliffside.
Rick Deutsch, author of One Best Hike: Yosmite’s Half Dome who calls himself as "Mr. Half Dome," even reported that many hikers wear flip-flops when attempted the half-dome hike.
While unprepared visitors is a big part of the problem, another huge issue is Yosemite’s refusal to limit the number of visitors allowed on the hike which is Yosemite’s most popular. It gets extremely crowded on this trail which makes for an even more dangerous climb. When fatalities happen, it is very tragic, but unfortunately, not that surprising.
People should have permits requiring them to have the proper climbing gear, (a harness, leather gloves, and a helmet at the least)
They should limit the amount of people allowed to hike. This might illustrate how difficult this hike actually is.
While there is a “Climb At Your Own Risk” sign but this is enough. Half Dome has a million visitors a year, this creates a false idea that since the park allows it for everyone,it must be safe for everyone to climb.
Untrue-not parents and children wearing jeans and flip-flops.
A comment on an LA Times Blog article about the park reads,
The National Park Service needs to take responsibility for what happens on Half Dome. When a climber falls and dies on one of the Yosemite walls - it is truly his or her responsibility. When a tourist slips and falls off the cables - it is the negligence and responsibility of the Park Service.
If the Cables were not available, climbers would not do this route without ropes and protection. Both the granite and the cables are slick and polished, the route is at the limit of friction for climbing shoes. This is not a novice route.
It's not about restricting freedoms here, it's about avoiding deaths.
