Who has done the cable climb at Halfdome?
 

Have a chance to go in July. Not too afraid of heights, but some of the GoPro videos of climbs look pretty gnarly.

Is it better than it looks?

Would you take a 13 year old?

Thanks
-b

Haven't done it and decided I didn't want to after seeing the people going up the back side of Half Dome. Some years ago a buddy & I hiked from Tuolomne Meadows to the valley. As we passed the area behind Half Dome, we could look off into the distanced and see the people going up the back, hanging onto the chains/cables. It looked like a trail of ants on the way to a honey jar. If you do it, I do hope you enjoy it though.

Wear well-fitting leather gloves!!!
.
No advice on 13 yr. old.

Did it three times three summers ago. That was before permits were needed. I just got permits for July 18th.
It is a tough but very doable hike. The cables are no big deal, it is the altitude that takes it out of you.
Bring lots of water and start early like 4:30 to 5 a.m. Before it gets too hot or you will run out of water.

Yes, a Thirteen year old can do it. Just be prepared for an eight to ten hour round trip hike.

Leather gloves could come in handy. I've done it twice, and the biggest problem was the crowds. With the new lottery system, I should think that problem would be lessened.

As for a 13-year-old, I won't say anything, except it can be scary and dangerous.

There is usually a pile of gloves at the start of the cables in case you forgot yours.

I have done it literally a bazillion times. I used to do it every year until the stupid quota system.

I never wear gloves and don't know why people do. I want skin to metal contact with the cables.

The whole thing is steep and if you fall outside the cables, lots of luck. But, the steepest part is probably 30 feet or so and close to the bottom. The rest is very manageable.

Come down facing into the the rock, holding the cables and taking long strides down, looking between your legs. Going down that way is way easy and not stressful.

An athletic 14 year old could probably do it outside the cables without much trouble.

Have fun.

thanks for the replies!! Great info. I think it will be a great opportunity and bonding experience..

Do you come down the whole way facing the rock? Or just the steep part?

Yeah, have read about a few deaths/injuries for those falling outside the cables.

Thanks
-b

most of the kids buckle prior to getting to the cables..IMHO the "walk" there is the real challenge.

i did watch an elderly lady with her husband stroll up there..i bet Burnin has seen them before. they do it all the time. the lady had a canvas ankle length skirt on. she called it her "hiking skirt". absolute badasses. i bet they were in their 70's.

I think it is not a terrible climb. Done it many times. That said, if I had a young teen kid, I would put him or her into a harness with a 20 foot rope that ends on a karabiner. You can go out ahead, secure him to the steel rope and then have him follow, only allowing him to climb while he is secured. I have seen many parents do this. Chances are slim that anything happens, but if you slip and fall off that face, you are definitely going to be dead. Don't forget that this last climb comes after a pretty tough hike - you may not be as fresh as you were getting out of the car. I would not want to face a falling risk with a kid even if it is 1:10^10 chance. Murphy never sleeps IMHO.

He or she may think you are being an idiot and embarrass him or her, but they will understand later in life, when they have their own at the latest. IF nothing else, it will be helpful if he or her locks up with an anxiety attack. I have seen that a lot too. Folks get half way up and suddenly freeze and have to get talked down for hours!

Coming down one time half way down the cables, my sunscreen fell out of my backpack and I watched it. That sure made an impression. It bounced off the face which gets increasingly steep with the fall - until I could not see it any more. Many seconds - shudder!

Have fun, it is a great hike.

G

come to think of it..the walk out was tough on my knees. i seem to remember coming out being my worst part.

good luck Viper!! have fun. and sunscreen. dont forget sunscreen.

Do start no later than 6 am on the hike. The ascent will be way too hot otherwise. Take one gallon of water a person. (You can read more about the hike and where to get water on the way up, if you have a filter). Also spend the night in Curry village to aclimate a little and get a good night rest.

G

My son did it when he was 16. I never did because I'm scared of heights.

One time my son carried a watermelon to the top. I thought he was crazy until he started offering slices to numerous girls that had made it up to the top. It turned into a great idea and now it has become a tradition with us.

I did it when I was 13, and many times after. Back then there were no crowds. Hopefully this permit system has taken care of the crowd/fall problem I've seen on YouTube.

One time at the summit we watched some guys finish thir ascent up the face. Made walking up the cables seem pretty lame!

Enjoy!

My wife did it back in 89. I was too pooped and slept in. Kinda wish I had done it now.

I've done it - it's not all that bad other than having to deal with the throngs of timid idiots who get halfway up and then freak out or just stand there, log-jamming the ascent for the 200 people behind them.

A 13 y/o is a judgment call. If they're responsible and have a healthy respect for things that could hurt or kill them I'd say sure - it's a great experience. On the other hand if they suffer from teenage "I-think-I'm-immortal-and-can-do-anything" syndrome, you might rethink it.

On my last time up there I was stuck in traffic and a guy two people in front of me turned around to ask his GF if she could retrieve a water bottle from her pack because she was thirsty. She reached in and got it but it slipped out of her hands and started rocketing down the slope. Instinctively she let go of the cable and turned to try and grab it before it got away and started to lose her balance. I had to grab her and physically throw her back onto the cable so she didn't end up sliding down to who-knows-where herself. Very weird and awkward moment (especially because I didn't know her) but she had eyes as big as dinner plates afterwards was a bit shaken realizing what almost happened and just said "thanks, sorry about that". My point is that it's a "routine" climb and a lot of people do it, but that doesn't mean it's not potentially dangerous. There are a lot of stupid people in the world and its frustrating when you're in a situation where they can create a real danger to themselves or others.

Go have fun, be careful and enjoy it at the top. Wear boots with good soles. :)

Ive always wanted to do it, but the freight train line of people that are on there now is a huge turn off to me. Kind of defeats the whole vibe of the climb.