Half Dome trail to be repared, hiking restricted

Yosemite National Park News Release

The last half mile of the popular trail to the summit of Half Dome (from the "shoulder" up to the cables to the top) will be repaired in the summer of 2002.

Crews cannot work on the trail while it is open because of safety concerns for both the visitors and the employees. Therefore, from July 8 through September 19, 2002, while the trail crew does the necessary work, <font color=red><b>hikers will be prohibited through this section of trail during the crews' work hours (7:00 am-4:00 pm, Monday-Thursday)</b></font>.

The trail will remain open from Thursday at 4:00 pm through Monday at 7:00 am as well as after 4:00 pm until 7:00 am Monday through Wednesday.

The trail repair will protect both the visitors and the resources in the park. The stone steps in this section of trail have deteriorated significantly, are at risk of failure, and need to be rebuilt. Additionally, many hikers cut around the trail because of its condition and trample nearby vegetation. By making the trail the best option for hikers, impacts can be restricted to the trail corridor. Repairs on this section of the trail have not been completed since 1973.

Hikers and climbers need to plan their trips to work around trail crew work hours on the Half Dome Trail. Additionally, users must take the usual precautions, as always, to be safe. Carry extra water, a flashlight, and let someone at home or in camp know where you are going and if you might be late. Hikers should be aware that afternoon lightning storms are possible which make Half Dome extremely dangerous. The summit of Half Dome is always closed to overnight camping to protect the area's natural resources.

The project is being completed through donations from the Yosemite Fund, a non profit group that partners with Yosemite National Park to achieve the park's mission to protect the natural and cultural resources of the park while providing a quality visitor experience.