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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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I agree that it's the experience of a lifetime for many and the closest they will get to climbing.
I also agree that taking them down would be a huge step closer to banning bolts in all wilderness.
So leave em up and don't charge big buck either! You want a $300 peak fee for el Cap?
Live and let live. It's possible for us climbers to enjoy half dome with or without em.
Peace
karl
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Perhaps the question should be, what can be done to reasonably manage usage of the route, in context of park planning and all the factors that must be balanced. For example, perhaps some minor changes could be made to the cables, stanchions and crossbeams, to make them safer to use, without significantly changing their appearance? Could or should user numbers, per day or per hour, be differently managed? Should users have to go through a training and safety session? Should there be commercial services for those interested? What about human waste and garbage?
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rectorsquid
climber
Lake Tahoe
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and enable unqualified people to get in harms way
That is the whole point of vacation, isn't it. Otherwise, ski areas, lakes for boating, whitewater, casinos, etc..., would all need to be "removed" to keep unqualified people from harms way.
Isn't that the nature of adventure. It's not adventure if it's easy and safe.
Dave
P.S. Rock climbing will need to be regulated too if "harms way" become the important factor in allowing certain activities. Or are we exempt because we are special?
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Greg Barnes
climber
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They are just a trail - an unusual one, but just a trail. Try rewording the original post:
The NPS has cleaned up it's act in the last couple of decades: no more firefall or feeding Grizzlies in Yellowstone. Why, then, do they still allow the John Muir Trail? The only trail along the crest of the Sierras in the National Park System, the John Muir Trail mars the landscape, creates a circus like atmosphere, and enables unqualified people to get in harms way.
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Permits to hike to the top of Half Dome are now required seven days per week when the cables are up. This is an interim measure to increase safety along the cables while the park develops a long-term plan to manage use on the Half Dome Trail.
A maximum of 400 permits will be issued each of these days (300 of these permits are available to day hikers). (Before the permit system was implemented in 2010, about 400 people used this trail on weekdays, while about 800 people used this trail on weekends and holidays, on average.)
I think people should read about the hike and responsabilities and pass a quick test to get a permit.
If you take out the cables you should really take out all improved trails in wilderness.
I'm worried about more people getting on Snake Dike because they can't use the cables.
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
SoCal
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I advocate leaving them up and adding more via feratta type trails in the park systems. Also, more mountain bike trails.
If we can successfully put up skate parks all over the USA then we need more recreational opportunities.
I volunteer to put up the Via Ferrrata on Grizzly Peak and the West face of HD.
Anyone volunteer to fund me?
Another high quality Donini troll.
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August West
Trad climber
Where the wind blows strange
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Something like the firefall and feeding grizzlies isn't quite the same thing. The cables are a permanent feature that predate Half Dome being in a wilderness area.
YNP clearly doesn't want to take them out and face the wraith of the public, but being in a wilderness area, they feel they can't make improvements. It's too bad. Having two set of cables and having the wood crossbars every three feet or so would vastly improve safety. As far as negative impacts, I don't see how it would really be any worse than what is there.
But again, I understand YNP's hands are tied and I don't see them making any improvements of any sorts.
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Gary
climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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I think people should read about the hike and responsabilities and pass a quick test to get a permit.
Same for all climbing in the park? After all, someone who's idea of an approach is crossing El Cap Meadow, they must be pretty green. Probably too green to be allowed to do something as dangerous as climbing.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
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I agree with Donini. They're an eyesore.
What about the face of El Cap in it's glory?? No haul bags, they're an eyesore to the "tourists". F*#kin-A, they're an attraction! People pull over and look through bi-nocs to spot them.
And we're worrying about a bolt-ladder (essentialy) on the face of HD and actual tourists going up there!!
Meh! There is bigger sh#t to be worrying about.
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Gene
climber
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What about taking the cables down once private vehicles are banned from the Valley, a convenient out-of-Valley based transit/shuttle system for visitors is in place, and folks of all ages including the old &/or disabled have reasonably priced places to stay in the Valley? That'd work for me.
g
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jbar
Mountain climber
urasymptote
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Wow! Besides the trip reports and beta posts this post is the epitome of what the ST forum should be about. As one begins reading, looking for comments that support their preconceived notion they can't help but run into opposing views by Donini, Coz, Roger Breedlove, Piton Ron, Ed Hartouni, and others that challenge them to think more deeply. Love it guys! I wonder if the park service ever considers posting on ST as a troll before creating new policies or budgetary decisions? I don't read ST very often anymore. I'm gonna go look for a post about the Denali user fees.
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High Fructose Corn Spirit
Gym climber
Full Silos of Iowa
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Rickety old wood and cable - thought that was part of the adventure.
America - nation of wusses - will be along soon enough - let's not contribute to it.
An improved cable system and stair case. No. What next, escalators and chair lifts?
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MisterE
Social climber
Cinderella Story, Outa Nowhere
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Man, I bet we could get some serious weight for Facelift with that project!
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
SoCal
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I'm kind of surprised no one here has pulled them as a joke.
You know, late some July night... 3 or 4 hearty souls... unfix the bottom and just pull them up! Then rap down and hide in the bushes to see the laughs the next morning.
Kinda like putting picknic tables on top of Intersection Rock.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
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I don't read ST very often anymore. I'm gonna go look for a post about the Denali user fees.
Sweet, so that means jbar is gone??? Good luck, man! And good riddance!
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sjellison
Mountain climber
Tucson
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wouldnt the chains on Angels Landing be another Via Ferrata in the Nat Parks?
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Gary
climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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Right on.
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WBraun
climber
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The cables are not going anywhere.
They were put there for mankind to go see above and beyond.
Not for arrogant puffed up climber.
All those who even harbor the idea of removing them will be reborn in their next life as accountants for the IRS .......
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Damn this looks high
climber
Temecula, CA
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Take it all down--the hotel, the cafeteria, the cables. It's all a travesty!
If they discovered the Garden of Eden today, it would have a gift shop in it by Friday.
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