Hiker falls to his death at Half Dome cables in Yosemite

nbc7 ^

[BenLurkin]

… during a thunderstorm.

Rangers were notified and arrived on the scene to provide assistance to the second hiker. The hiker who fell did not survive and rangers recovered his body Tuesday.

... first fatality on the Half Dome cables since 2010, and the first time a visitor has died at the park this year.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Yikes. RIP.

[dirtboy]

The hiker fell from the Half Dome cables Monday around 4:30 p.m. while hiking with another person during a thunderstorm.

Hate to seem uncaring, but you start getting off any mountain in the Mountain West by noon - you start the hike early in the morning so you are back down in the trees if a storm kicks in.

[Deaf Smith]

Interesting read of the permenting and lottery system to hike the dome and cable system.

Noted was that accidents were usually from foolishness.

[af_vet_1981]

Sad; the cables are daunting due to the high number of ascenders and descenders at the same time. All it takes is one dropped piece of gear hurtling down on one to knock one off the ropes.

Wear a helmet; use a safety harness on the cables.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

“
Wear a helmet; use a safety harness on the cables”

I’ll just sit here on my barstool, thank you very much. ;<)

[Jayster]

I have done Half Dome.

Several areas besides just the cables where you can die.

[Osage Orange]

ROFLOL..!!

[Ben Hecks]

I remember the lights of climbers spending the night on the sheer face of Half Dome, hanging by pitons driven into cracks in the rock.....wondered how anyone slept like that.

[Bulwyf]

I used to be a very avid climber. Squamish chief etc, and I could never make myself sleep on a face heh.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

...and closer to home a couple days ago: "Man falls from cliff, dies while trying to rescue dog in Daly City"

[Getready]

Wouldnt the cables and the hikers themselves attract a lightning strike....there aint much sticking out of half dome besides that...

[the OlLine Rebel]

Why do people do this stupid stuff?

[pigsmith]

”I’ll just sit here on my barstool, thank you very much. ;<)”

I laughed out loud and scared the cats! :-)

[Magnum44]

I’ve climbed the half dome cables twice in my life. The experience is breathtaking. Anyone who appreciates the outdoors would not call it stupid. As with any wilderness travel, one does have to be prepared for the unexpected, including bad weather. Your question would be more appropriate if you asked “why do stupid people do this stuff?”

[Kickass Conservative]

In a Thunderstorm?

Imagine if Lightning hit that Metal Cable.
A whole bunch of people would die in a flash.

[sheana]

When hubby was younger he was a climber......and slept hanging on Half Dome.

[Truthoverpower]

Only loser tourists use the cables
I’ve been up a dozen times
Never used either the trails or the cables
You can cross at top of vernal falls and get to the base 5 MILES faster and not dangerous
Thrn you just go up the rocks next to the cables while all the stupid tourists are jammed on them going nowhere with white knuckles
I would never do it the tour-on way. Never never
It would drive this wilderness boy nuts

[DesertRhino]

Gosh you sure are cool.....Yeahhhhh sure. If you were half the wilderness stud you wish you were, you would know that calling someone a loser for hiking up and getting up the cables says WAY more about you, than it does about them.

[GOP Poet]

Yes they do. There are explicit directions to check for—and to not attempt if there are ANY—thunder clouds in sight. And also clear tips on what to do to increase the likelihood of survival if you are caught by one. But as you said, both being completely exposed and hanging from iron cables during a thunderstorm don’t bode well. And add slick rain and well . . . prayers on both accounts individually or together.