What's more dangerous: climbing or hiking on the Half Dome?

news.yahoo.com/600-foot-fal…

Obviously hiking is more dangerous Bang. At least that's what the article you posted says.

Too bad about that poor woman. The cables are a clusterfuck of the first degree. I'm surprised this kind of thing doesn't happen more often.

Best part: "The hikers who witnessed the fall were so frightened that 40 people refused to move and had to be rescued from the dome"

I wish I could see the YOSAR faces: Wait, all of you want to come in the chopper? And you're not hurt?

thecornyman wrote:Best part: "The hikers who witnessed the fall were so frightened that 40 people refused to move and had to be rescued from the dome"?

You might think of that differently if the I-thought-it-was-safe-but-apparently-it's-deadly wet slab that you're standing on just sent someone to their death in front of your eyes.

you guys bother to read the article? apparently its beyond the cables on the saddle.

Eric Dorsey wrote:you guys bother to read the article? apparently its beyond the cables on the saddle.

I didn't read the Yahoo article, but I did read an article on CNN and I believe on BBC. I think it's a waste of resources to rescue 40 people because they were freaked out.

Now that I've read the Yahoo article, it seems that no one really had any business being up there considering the weather.

Marc H wrote: I didn't read the Yahoo article, but I did read an article on CNN and I believe on BBC. I think it's a waste of resources to rescue 40 people because they were freaked out. Now that I've read the Yahoo article, it seems that no one really had any business being up there considering the weather.

You do realize the 40 people needing rescue happened over 2 years ago and these are separate incidents? Reading comprehension.... Good thing you are not making the calls at yosar!

Eric Dorsey wrote:Reading comprehension.... Good thing you are not making the calls at yosar!

So the fact that it happened in 2009 and not during this latest incident means that it's more justified?

Marc wrote:I think it's a waste of resources to rescue 40 people because they were freaked out.

I made a general observation that I believe it's a waste of resources to rescue 40 people simply because they were freaked out--whether it's during an incident in 2009, 2011 or 2025.

How's your reading comprehension?

--Marc

Marc H wrote: How's your reading comprehension?

Not very good when you delete your original posts :)

Eric Dorsey wrote: Not very good when you delete your original posts :)

My point remained the same: "rescuing" 40 people because they're freaked out is excessive and a waste of resources. But I'm sure some people will disagree with that.

My favorite part of the article is the quote from the psychologist:

"If the trail isn't closed, people tend to take that as a source of information: Wouldn't they tell us not to do it if it were dangerous?" said psychologist Paul Price, a professor of psychology at Fresno State."

It's ALWAYS dangerous, Paul. Anyone with any common sense shouldn't need to be told that. The cables on Half Dome are a great example of the herd mentality. Everyone else is doing it, so it must be OK, right?

I came down the cables after climbing Half Dome on Memorial Day weekend a few years ago (before the quotas) and it was unbelievable.

Marc H: I agree with you.