If you’re not on Twitter or weren’t attempting to hike to the top of Half Dome last Friday then you probably missed the closing of the cables for a short time. Here’s the full story.
Half Dome cables temporarily closed for emergency repairs. Expect reopening by noon on 6/23 (subject to change). http://t.co/C4QhGTti
— Yosemite National Park (@YosemiteNPS) June 23, 2012
On Friday, June 22, at about 5 pm, a hiker slipped while descending the Half Dome cables. A fellow hiker dropped a handheld radio on the cables above him, and the hiker instinctively reached for the falling radio, losing his handhold on the cables. The hiker slid a short distance on his back away from the cables and was able to stop by grabbing a natural feature. The hiker waited precariously to be rescued by NPS rangers. During the time it took rangers to arrive on scene, other hikers on the cables dismantled a portion of the cables in order to help the fallen hiker to safety.
Due to the time of day the accident occured, the cables were closed for the evening to allow Yosemite trail crew time to assess and reassemble the cables. On Saturday morning, June 23, park rangers and trail crew finished reassembling and inspecting the cable system. There was no permanent damage to the cables. The Half Dome cables were reopened at 10 AM. The rescued hiker had no serious injuries, suffering only minor scrapes and cuts. (Photo and story via NPS)