Half Dome cables
All of the summer permits to hike Yosemite’s Half Dome were distributed following the March lottery. But you can still get to the top this year by entering the mini-lottery. But how are the odds? Honestly, pretty good. In the few days since the cables were put up on May 25, the NPS has been able to make many people happy by awarding permits. 50 permits are put up daily for access. Data is still too little to generalize, but so far an average of 85 permits have been on the block. This is the 50 base number and any cancellations. Weekdays are still the best bet. Considering all those who entered the lottery, about 25% were successful. So, give it a try. It’s worth it.
Other news: Tuolumne Meadows Campground will open on June 8. It will be 100% first-come, first-serve basis through June 12. Then half will be reservable via recreation.gov.
Unrelated thought worth quoting: “Madman drummers bummers, Indians in the summer
with a teenage diplomat. In the dumps with the mumps as the adolescent pumps his way into his hat. With a boulder on my shoulder, feelin’ kinda older, I tripped the merry-go-round. With the stereo pleasin’ and sneezin’ and wheezin, the calliope crashed to the ground. Oh she was blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night” – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com
One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome
12. June 2012 at 10:16 pm
Well…. Tried for Thursday. All three in our group denied. We are heading up anyway. We will hike up to the bottom of the sub dome where the government border patrol are stationed. If we can hook up on somebody’s unused permit we will.
Maybe I’ll “safely” free climb from the other side where you don’t need a permit that protects us from ourselves.
12. June 2012 at 6:18 am
Don’t hold your breath Denise. After applying for the permit for Wednesday the 12th in the big and daily lottery I am not in the “twenty-five percent”
The two other people in my party were also big losers. The whole system is questionable, the booking from Recreation.gov is clunky. ( You have to enter your credit card info twice just so you can lose the lottery! )
It sure would be nice to know how the “lottery” is conducted. I find it hard to believe it’s random.
Any word on the guide services and their ability to get permits?
12. June 2012 at 4:40 pm
Guide Services have no fast lane. They have to apply as anyone else. They are more flexible as to what days they request. With Alternate names, the odds increase. They can also take up groups who have their own permits.
12. June 2012 at 2:15 am
Hi Rick,
We did HD in 2010 using your book as a guide. We were thinking of doing it again this Fall, but are now trying to reconcile the new permit rules.
Last fall you posted on tripadvisor:
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9. Re: Half Dome permit frustration— any thoughts?
30 September 2011, 4:55
50 permits are indeed put on recreation.gov at 7 am PDT each day for the following day. These are above and beyond the normal 300. These new permits can only be used by the person buying them with an ID at Sub Dome. They go fast… try hitting BUY at 6:59:59 to allow your electrons time to get to the site. Better … have 2 PC’s going.
If you do not get one, do the hike anyway. Only about 240 are actually showing up. Many have permits to give. I have one extra for Oct 6. Lemme know.
Rick
Mr Half Dome
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Would this advice be obsolete this year due to the new lottery and non-transferability policy? Because we were thinking of relying on the no-show factor and simply doing the hike.
Your thoughts?
12. June 2012 at 4:43 pm
Because of scalping in 2011, the whole ball game changed. Go to my PERMITS buttton and you can catch up. Whoever buys the permits must be on the hike with an ID. Try the 2-day mini lottery. You cannot buy or sell them..but if you are on the trail and someone gives you one, you have to be with them when you meet the ranger at Sub Dome.
10. June 2012 at 9:35 am
Hopefully it will continue for our visit in August, I’m ready for this hike!!!