A month for Half Dome
What's New — By petedevine on September 12, 2010 at 5:39 pmIt’ll be another month until the trail crew de-rigs the cable route to the summit of Half Dome for the winter, so make some plans for this hike soon. Cooler weather makes the 16-mile round-trip trek a bit easier, but the shorter days make it a bit tougher – definitely start this dayhike before dawn, bring a headlamp and plan to finish in the dark, too. This year, day hikers need a permit for Friday, Saturday, Sunday (and the Monday Columbus Day observation); these are available only at recreation.gov and have probably all been taken. Backpackers who overnight in Little Yosemite Valley just need the same Wilderness permit they’ve always needed.
After Columbus Day weekend is traditionally when the summit route closes ahead of the snow and ice season. Do NOT try the cable route when the cables are down. Depending on what kind of winter we have look for them to be re-rigged in mid- to late-May.
1 Comment
Great Advice.
The permits for Half Dome all went in 9 minutes after they became available on line at recreation.gov. last spring. Often hikers give extra permits to the Rangers at Sub Dome who will “recycle” them and give them to those without permits. The cables will be down for the season on Oct 11. Caution is needed this time of year as daylight shrinks and mountain weather moves in. Even though cooler days prevail, you still need to drink water. Bring a filter pump to say hydrated. natural water can contain giardia. Have fun! Carpe Diem.
Rick Deutsch
Mr Half Dome