Yosemite Sets Hiking Cables to Summit of Half Dome

It's a springtime announcement eagerly anticipated by hikers: "The cables to the summit of Half Dome have been installed."

Today the announcement by Yosemite National Park was made, enabling completion of a grueling 17-mile round-trip hike during which hikers gain 4,800 feet of elevation and are treated with stunning views of Vernal and Nevada falls.

After passing the falls, weary travelers reach the cables, which means the ultimate reward is close at hand. A series of metal cables are placed on Half Dome's steep granite shoulder to assist hikers to the summit. And as you can see, the route is sometimes crowded.

Yosemite advises those planning this hike to take appropriate precautions and prepare for rapidly changing weather. Rain, thunder and lightning are common in the Sierra Nevada, especially in summer and fall, and hikers should not attempt to summit the dome when lightning appears possible.