We did Half Dome back in 2008 before the permit system. Upon finishing, I realized that we should have worn climbing harnesses and clipped into the cables. That way, a fall is physically impossible.
I wore those in 1989 already. People looked at me like I was some complete idiot. Back in europe on then well established Via Ferrata or Klettersteige, wearing a harness with two biners to clip in and out around the anchors had been well established before my first Half Dome visit.
In 1989, we went up with packs for an overnight (legal then) and it was a no brainer to use the harness for safety. A day and a half later at Tuolumne meadows we put them in a package and mailed them home, then went on our way to Whitney. Photo is from 1989
