I just return from my first trip to Yosemite. It was all I thought it would be and more. My only issue I had was with Half Dome. My family and I hike into LYV and dropped our packs at our site and then hike up to HD. It was a Thursday afternoon around 1:30 pm. When we arrived there was a line that was taking 1-2 hours to get to the cables! it was crazy. No rangers in site. People starting up the cables and freezing no one moving, so crowded on the cables no one from the top could get down. We waited for about 35 minutes before getting tired of waiting. So my 13 year old son and I decide to go up on the outside of the cables. It was a little hairy but we were up in 12 minutes took our time at the top and then back down on the outside of the cables. That was all in about 45 minutes. If we had waited it would have been 3-4 hrs. To me the park is crazy for letting that many people gather up there. It's dangerous first of all. If a storm comes up people will be hurt. Most people are scared to death on those cables. I could see it on their faces.Others have thenselves strapped to the cable so if they fall they will take out everyone behind them.
The climb outside the cables was exciting to say the least but we both were physically fit and not scared of heights. People have no clue what they are getting into. They stretch them selves across the cables so no one coming down can get by. A big traffic jam.
For all the things the park service does right in the park this is a
mess!
Changes are coming. I met a ranger on the trail and was talking about HD when she informed me that they are soon going to require permits every day of the week to help elimnate the overcrowding and make it safer. It makes sense. Even if disappoints people it's for the best. If it saves one life and I know it will it's worth it. Plus it will make the climb safer and more enjoyable for everyone else.