Hikes like half dome and angels’ landing are super dangerous whether or not people die frequently on them. You’re not stupid to do these hikes if you prepare for them, but even if you’re prepared, there is still risk.
These hikes can get crowded even with the ticket system, and more and more people rush up these trails to get the shot for their Insta or whatever. Two-way crowds of impatient tourists on these narrow ledges and steep scrambles/climbs are a real issue and even a prepared hiker could get unlucky.
Not to mention other hazards like incliment weather like in this case. Half-dome is a unique weather risk during that final climb because it is just rock. Rock worn extra smooth and made dusty by hikers’ boots. If it rains, that dust turns to silty mud and you now have nature’s most majestic slip-n-slide.
The national parks make nature accessible, and because it’s accessible, people underestimate it and don’t respect it like they should.
When I got to the cables part of angel’s landing, saw the amount of people attempting to finish the hike and their relative fitness level, I noped the f out of there.
I’m not trusting my life with some rando that looks like they have no business doing what they are doing.
Experienced hiker and noob climber here. I did the exact same thing at Angel’s Landing. The route would’ve been easy even without the aid. It’s all the inexperienced people fucking around that made it very dangerous.
Same here. The sheer 800ft. Drops on either sides of of the 2-4ft wide ridge with people coming both ways was a no from me.
Also even just on the way up the the first landing (the like 500sqft flat area where you can rest) with that 1.5ft wide ledge getting up to it and the rope with 300ft sheer drops- I had a frustrated dad wearing flip flops and a 2 year old kid in a baby backpack rushing by everyone while people were heading down too. Shit’s wild.
Hikes like half dome and angels’ landing are super dangerous whether or not people die frequently on them. You’re not stupid to do these hikes if you prepare for them, but even if you’re prepared, there is still risk.
These hikes can get crowded even with the ticket system, and more and more people rush up these trails to get the shot for their Insta or whatever. Two-way crowds of impatient tourists on these narrow ledges and steep scrambles/climbs are a real issue and even a prepared hiker could get unlucky.
Not to mention other hazards like incliment weather like in this case. Half-dome is a unique weather risk during that final climb because it is just rock. Rock worn extra smooth and made dusty by hikers’ boots. If it rains, that dust turns to silty mud and you now have nature’s most majestic slip-n-slide.
The national parks make nature accessible, and because it’s accessible, people underestimate it and don’t respect it like they should.
I’m fairly fit, dabbled in bouldering, etc.
When I got to the cables part of angel’s landing, saw the amount of people attempting to finish the hike and their relative fitness level, I noped the f out of there.
I’m not trusting my life with some rando that looks like they have no business doing what they are doing.
Experienced hiker and noob climber here. I did the exact same thing at Angel’s Landing. The route would’ve been easy even without the aid. It’s all the inexperienced people fucking around that made it very dangerous.
I left Zion and went to Moab.
Same here. The sheer 800ft. Drops on either sides of of the 2-4ft wide ridge with people coming both ways was a no from me.
Also even just on the way up the the first landing (the like 500sqft flat area where you can rest) with that 1.5ft wide ledge getting up to it and the rope with 300ft sheer drops- I had a frustrated dad wearing flip flops and a 2 year old kid in a baby backpack rushing by everyone while people were heading down too. Shit’s wild.