My guess is the National Park service will proceed with their plan, in particular because of the following factors (from the Park Service's website):
The Half Dome trail's popularity is taking a toll on its wilderness environment:
• Vegetation damage and soil loss on and near the trail corridor, including many sections that are very wide and deeply eroded
• Habituation of wildlife along the trail corridor, and particularly at the summit and subdome, from improper food storage and feeding
• Threats to a population of the Mt. Lyell Salamander, a California Specie of Special Concern
• Severe crowding on the subdome, summit and cables, including long lines to use the cables
• Very high encounter rates on the entire trail
Increases in the number of people hiking to Half Dome are impacting the environment so that it no longer reflects the conditions called for in the Wilderness Act.
Crowding on the Half Dome cables can increase exit time from the summit and the amount of time visitors are exposed to hazardous natural conditions such as slippery wet rock, extreme temperatures, and lightning.
PURPOSE OF THIS PLAN
1. Protect the wilderness character of the project area
2. Improve the visitor experience on the Half Dome Trail by reducing crowding
3. Protect the area's natural and cultural resources
4. Improve the ability of its visitors to manage their own risk
I fully support the Park's plan; it seems a reasonable compromise between the current free-for-all and a more carefully managed environmental situation, as well as providing more safety for the average tourist hiker.
I didn't see a fee schedule for Half Dome permits; is there a fee?
Will the Park have a "gate-keeper" to check for permits?
