Are you ready for Half Dome?

If you’re planning on a weekend trip to Yosemite this summer to climb the cables up Half Dome then you’re going to want to head over to Recreation.gov and make yourself familiar with the Half Dome signup page now. No you can’t make a reservation yet but like all major rock concerts and sporting events tickets are sure to go in minutes when the site becomes functional on March 1st.

Beginning Monday, March 1, reservations to climb the Half Dome Cables in Yosemite National Park will go on sale for all dates in May and June 2010 at 7 A.M. Pacific Time (10 A.M. Eastern). Reservations will be required for anyone wishing to ascend the cable route on all Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and on all Federal holidays May 21 through October 11, 2010. A National Park Service Law Enforcement Ranger will be checking permits.

For more information visit the Half Dome registration on Recreation.gov.


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5 responses to “Are you ready for Half Dome?”

  1. Heather O'Dell Avatar
    Heather O’Dell

    If people are now paying for a climbing spot ( which is a good way of thinning the massive crowds ) where is the money going? Is there a specific allocated spot for this fund??

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      The only thing you’re paying for is a service fee generated by the web site. Like all trail head reservations there’s no charge for the reservation itself. If you really want a good question about where your hard earned tax dollars are going ask yourself why your local school superintendent is making six figures and has 6 secretaries to do all his work when teachers are getting laid off.

  2. Heather O'Dell Avatar
    Heather O’Dell

    Yes that is a good question as well; however, I can only worry and act on my own little portion of the world, which has included Yosemite and it’s care since I was a kid. It may be a good money generating avenue since thousands are determined every year to climb. I am not a fan of paying for every little thing one does in the world but I do think funds should be allocated for worthy projects, such as the restoration and care of this special yet overused National treasure, don’t you agree? Thanks for your prompt answer, by the way. Yours in nature

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      I am sensing a little misinformation here. The fee is $1.50. It is paid to NRRS (National Recreation Reservation Service) for maintaining their Web site. No money goes to the National Parks. The actual reservations are FREE. You’re paying for processing. I believe the NRRS is a third party service not actually ran by a government agency. As for where the funds go, the National Parks are each allotted money out of the Department of Interiors budget. Their take at the gate, the $20 or so, is paid back into the General Fund. Services in the park like campgrounds and the leasing of concessionaires help offset the cost of running the National Parks. They spend what they’re allotted and don’t take any from gate proceeds. Most of the time that’s the bare minimum to keep the park open. That’s why organizations like the Yosemite Fund, Yosemite Association and Yosemite Climbing Association play a HUGE part in the maintaining and upgrading park facilities. The donations they gather from members pay for things like the rehabilitation of the Yosemite Falls Trail, Olmsted Point, Tunnel View and Half Dome View upgrades. The park couldn’t have afforded to make those upgrades without their generous contributions.

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