Winter 2017 Takes Its Toll On Yet Another Annual Summer Ritual
Sierra Rec Magazine, May 25, 2017 – Yosemite Announced today that Due to lingering snow, the installation of the Half Dome cables will be delayed until at least June 2 this year (instead of May 26). If you have a Half Dome hiking permit for the dates between May 26 and when the cables are installed, your permit fee will be refunded. Once cables are installed, permits will be available via the Daily Lottery on recreation.gov.
Permits for Half Dome started in Spring of 2011, that season the cable went up on June 22 and every season the opening is always predicated on when the access is free of snow danger.
Plenty to see in the valley and lower trails of Yosemite, but this will be frustrating to some who travel and have made plans long before the lasting winter took it toll on this dream hike. Unfortunately, the battle of the 2017 winter storms continues as our National Parks unbury from the great snow pack at higher elevations.