"We recommend that people do not attempt the route when the cables are down." Typically, the cables come up again in May when the park begins issuing 300 permits a day to hike Half Dome.

The Half Dome cables protect the last 400 feet of an eight-mile hiking route to the top of the iconic batholith. The cables section is a Class III scramble with high-consequence exposure.

Half Dome Hike: This strenuous 14- to 16-mile round-trip hike is definitely not for the faint of heart; however, it offers stunning views of Yosemite Valley as you climb 8,800 feet above sea level ...