If you love Yosemite and visit regularly – summer starts this week.
“A lot of people mark the start of the Yosemite summer as the cables being put up in place because that is one of the main hikes to do in the park.”
Park Ranger Kari Cobb says typically the cables don’t go up until mid-to-late June. But since the park received so little snowpack this past winter – 50% of normal – the trail is free of barriers.
Metal cables and wooden planks are placed along the steep shoulder of the dome to help hikers to the summit. But Cobb says even with that help, the 17 mile trek is a workout.
“We always do suggest that if you’re thinking about hiking Half Dome take a little bit of time to exercise and to train and spend a little bit of time at high elevation as the top of the dome is almost at 9,000 feet.”
You have to have a permit to hike Half Dome. Most of the permits were given out earlier this year. But about 50 permits per day are available through a lottery.
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