Deaths On Half Dome

Above, a morning view of Half Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since I was never fond of heights or hiking, I would never be one of those who would climb up Yosemite National Park's Half Dome, even in my younger days.

But many people have climbed Half Dome successfully, but there has been a few fatalites.

The Mercury News takes a look at the fatalities that took place on Half Dome over the years.

They begin their article with:

The last segment of the hike up Yosemite’s Half Dome is memorable — and, to many, nerve-wracking — but deaths there are rare. 

The fatal fall of a hiker last week has turned attention to the safety of the cable route up the national park’s iconic rock. 

In the almost 100 years since cables were installed to help hikers climb the steep pitch of the dome, eight people have died from falling on that stretch. Of those fatal falls, four occurred when the rock was wet and at least one was caused by a hiker’s collapse from illness.

To read more, go here.