Tragedy in Yosemite...again

YH · Posted: 5/4/2007, 8:10 am Post subject: Tragedy in Yosemite...again

Another tragedy struck recently in Yosemite. A woman fell from the cables on Half Dome…the second one in about 5 months. I am always saddened by such news. Probably because it's my playground and i feel a kinship with others who love it. It also causes me to think about “risk”.

Maybe it’s the years catching up with me, or one unexpected injury too many, but I find myself assessing my judgment more often now. Both women who lost their lives this year were passionate women who loved the wilderness experience. Neither were novices…both were climbing up when the cables were down and the granite wet.

I have been up HD when the cables were down along with the temperature. I know the fatigue that comes from lifting heavy steel cables to pull yourself upward. I know the lower back pain, tired arms, cold fingers, even though I have gloves on, trying to grip cold cables. What I don’t know is why people do that when the granite is wet or icy. Perhaps it is our “experience” (been there, done that experience) that pushes the envelope from calculated risk to down right dangerous without us realizing it. Sure footing disappears with one un-noticed small icy patch…a slip…gravity and momentum wrench tired hands loose from a cable…hearts and lives are now left with a void that cannot be filled.

I say all of this not to be a downer, but simply to say please be careful as you journey further up and further in. We hike, backpack, climb etc. not because it is risk free, but because the experience enriches our lives…We also choose the risks we take and on any given day the elements can change that factor dramatically…choose wisely my friends; you are irreplaceable. And maybe it would do us all well to remember a line from a Rich Mullins song as we explore the vast wonders of our majestic mountains, mysterious deserts and grand canyons…

“With our hells and our heavens
So few inches apart
We must be awfully small
And not as strong as we think we are”

Live fully and wisely.
YH

Davis2001R6 · Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 5591 Location: Italy

Yeah I read about that a few days ago. That looks like a heck out climb whether the cables are up or down. Take a look at this picture:

Cables Down for the year

threedogz · Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 668 Location: Chandler

impressive picture... Too bad about the tragedy, at least she was doing something she loved.

I'm going to be spending a week out there next year to do some hiking and I'm so looking forward to it. I have never been out there before.
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azbackpackr · Posted: 5/4/2007, 12:38 pm Post subject:

No helmets, no clip-ins--no thanks! Somebody above you slips and could take out a bunch more folks while falling? Sheesh!

YH · Posted: 5/4/2007, 1:05 pm Post subject:

Nice picture Tim! It was November when a friend and I went up; we were the only two up there! Only two on Half Dome?...Priceless!

YH · Posted: 5/4/2007, 1:10 pm Post subject:

threedogz · Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 668 Location: Chandler

Matt Hoffman · Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 701 Location: Grantham, NH

Wow. That's a bummer for sure. Anytime someone gets hurt or killed while hiking or climbing it makes me sit back and think about how lucky I've been over the years.

I did that route up Half Dome a few years ago with my girlfriend and 2 other friends; who got engaged at the top! We did it when the cables were up and it was quite a rush. I couldn't imagine doing it with it the cables down (well, yes I could...I'm a climber). At least when the cables are up, there are 2x4's that you can brace yourself against. I'll have to get some of my film pics scanned and put on a disc and post them. Definitely a cool hike though!
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azhiker96 · Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 1419

Okay, help me out please. What is the difference between cables up or down? Do they remove the cables(down) for part of the year? Thanks.
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GTG · Posted: 5/4/2007, 5:18 pm Post subject:

Matt Hoffman · Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 701 Location: Grantham, NH

PageRob · Joined: 03 Mar 2005 Posts: 859 Location: Page, Az.

Jeeze, that picture is intense. I've always wanted to do that, but I agree - where are the clip-ins?
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Davis2001R6 · Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 5591 Location: Italy

They remove the "supports" or whatnot that hold the cables elevated to around waste/elbow height for the winter as they can be ripped off the mountain in a winter avalanche. They do it before the major winter storms and probably don't put them back up until sometime soon I would imagine.

But that leaves a lot of good hiking weather in between. I haven't made it up there either, but hope to one of these years.

Davis2001R6 · Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 5591 Location: Italy

Ok found a picture with the cables "Up"

YH · Posted: 5/5/2007, 5:26 am Post subject:

They must have taken that picture in the a.m. on a week-day. Often it's a steady stream of people on the week-end. If someone gets scared and stops it creates a bottleneck. Some people now go up at night to watch the sunrise and avoid the people.

It sure is nice up top! And BIG up there!