Half dome advice/partners 20th(ish) March

Hi I'm visiting from Australia and heading up to Yosemite, I've been looking into Half Dome for a good day hike. Sorry if I'm posting in the wrong area but thought I'd just check, I'm seeing information that the cables are still down but the hike is doable for some. I'm not very experienced in climbing but have lots of multi sport/endurance experience and looking at doing a bit of trail running around Yosemite and can't resist the temptation of Half Dome. Any advice or people interested in coming? I usually do light weight speed ascents but am willing to take a slow day hike with basic climbing equipment for the cable section if required. Any information would be greatly appreciated and on other areas of Yosemite, Tahoe and surrounding national parks. Thanks!

I've never done the cable route, but...be sure your shoes have sticky rubber and that you are comfortable on exposed slab.

I've done the hike using the Muir Trail from the Visitor's Center to the top of HD via the cables and I've climbed the NW Face and descended the cable route. It's pretty mellow and approach shoes are more than enough. There's usually a pile of gloves at the base of the cables that you can use. I'm not sure they're there this time of year. Usually the glove pile is during the summer. I'd take a pair of leather gloves if possible. It makes a BIG difference on the cables. Also keep in mind it's early in the season and because of snow, you may not be able to go all the way up the dome on the cables if snowy. That could be sketchy. Have fun!
Zach

If you are not a climber, don't do the cables when they are down without a climbing guide and some type of back up in case of a fall.

Half Dome does not seem like an alpine experience, but people die fairly regularly up there. And that's with the cables UP.

Cool thanks for the advice guys. Yes I've done a fair bit of research on the hike lately. It's definitely got some intimidating information about it but after looking through some videos of winter ascents and checking trail reviews I'm comfortable that my fitness and ability should get me there safely. Its been a very mild winter too and almost no rain in the last month so fingers crossed it should be bone dry. I am fully prepared to turn back below the cables if there's any cloud or moisture on the ground. Have some winter gloves but might go with your advice and get some heavier duty leather ones! Any other information or opinions would be great! Even if it's not what I want to hear haha.

Accidents don't care about your fitness level. That's why they call them accidents. Many deaths in Yosemite actually come on easy terrain while unroped. Including a VERY strong climber who completed a moderately difficult climb unroped only to fall on the "easy" descent. I can all but promise you she was more badass than you.

If you're planning on going up the cables ANYWAY, at least buy a cheap harness (or make a Swiss seat out of climbing webbing) and attach a sling with a carabiner to the cable. You'll have to unclip and reclip every 30 feet or so to pass the downed posts. At least this way you can rest on the sling if needed or if you start freaking out. And if you fall, the posts will catch you and with luck you won't break your back.

An even better solution would be to use a prussic and a sling with carabiner. There is detailed information on how to use a prussic on the cables if you google it. It's not fool proof, and retying the prussic could be tedious but it is the safest system short of using a rope.

Again, you'll probably be fine if you're fit to just hand over hand the cables, but you're not a climber and will never know for sure if you are fine. Even as a climber (and strong at the time) I used 2 slings and climbing shoes to go down the downed cables.

I'm not trying to rain on your parade. Everyone has a risk tolerance, I just don't believe you are knowledgeable enough to make an informed risk assessment.

Also, the information I've written above is strictly for the sake of discussion and should not be construed as instruction.

Rob Gordon wrote:You'll have to unclip and reclip every 30 feet or so to pass the downed posts.

Marc801 wrote: When the cables are down for the winter, they also remove the posts and the cross members. Half Dome with cables "down" that I pulled off the web:

Thanks for that info. Yes I've seen a few detailed accounts of some the techniques of using safety equipment on the cables and I think at a minimum I'll take a harness and prussik rope just in case. I think your right with the poles are taken out completely but does anyone know how many times I'd have to untie and redo the prussik due to cables ending/joins etc?

Yes they take the poles out, but there are joints in the cables that have to be passed. They are what I was referring to. I can't remember how many.

Rob Gordon wrote:Yes they take the poles out, but there are joints in the cables that have to be passed. They are what I was referring to. I can't remember how many.