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Extension of Interim Permit
Program for the Half Dome Cables
Posted
Monday, January 16, 2012 |
Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to
play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give
strength to body and soul.
~John Muir
(1838-1914), American naturalist
Story continued below.
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Photo and
Slide Show by JoAnne Green
Yosemite National Park will require Day Use Permits
seven days per week for climbing the Half Dome
cables during the summer 2012 season. This is an
extension of the interim permit system that was
implemented beginning in 2010. Permits will be
required seven days per week to ascend the Half Dome
cables. This is part of an interim program designed
to address crowding and safety issues on the cables.
Hiking
to the top of Half Dome is one of the most popular
hikes in Yosemite National Park. The iconic granite
monolith, at 8,842feet above sea level, attracts
people from all over the world who attempt to climb
to the summit. Most visitors ascend Half Dome via
the cables, which are typically in place from
mid-May through mid-October. Most visitors begin and
end their hike at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley.
This is an approximately 14-mile round-trip journey.
Applications for permits are available from March 1
through March 31.The park will allocate permits
through a preseason lottery, a two-day in advance
lottery, and as part of the Wilderness Permit
process. Details regarding the lotteries and the
wilderness process can be found at the park's
website at
www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hdpermits.htm.
The lottery will be conducted through
www.recreation.gov.
The
park is expecting to release the Half Dome Trail
Stewardship Plan Environmental Assessment (EA) later
this winter. This document will address use on the
trail and the cables and provide alternatives on a
permanent management plan for the Half Dome cables.
The park strongly encourages public comment on the
plan during the formal comment period.
Yosemite National Park will provide more detailed
information regarding the Day Use Permit lotteries
and other pertinent information about the Half Dome
Trail soon.
(Source: Yosemite
National Park press release, January 13, 2012)
Happenings
in the Central Valley, January 2012
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