Half Dome hiker tried to grab Ariz. woman as she tumbled to her death Yosemite's classic hike can be treacherous. Here's how to stay safe

In this July 15, 2014, file photo, hikers gather in the foreground as climbers use the assistance of cables to scale Half Dome in Yosemite National Park National Park in California's Sierra Nevada. A hiker in Yosemite National Park fell to his death while climbing to the top of iconic granite cliffs of Half Dome. Park spokesman Scott Gediman says 29-year-old Danielle Burnett, of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, was scaling the steepest part of the trail Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019, when she fell more than 500 feet down the steep, rocky terrain. Gediman says Burnett was dead when park rangers arrived on the scene. less In this July 15, 2014, file photo, hikers gather in the foreground as climbers use the assistance of cables to scale Half Dome in Yosemite National Park National Park in California's Sierra Nevada. A hiker in ... more Photo: Brian Melley / Associated Press Photo: Brian Melley / Associated Press Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Half Dome hiker tried to grab Ariz. woman as she tumbled to her death 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Shawn Slimp was climbing the steepest part of Yosemite's Half Dome with his friends when a woman above them slipped and fell under the cable handrails. She began sliding down the massive granite slab.

"Me and my friend both reached out to try and grab her but she was too far away," the Roseville man wrote in a Facebook post. "Definitely not something you ever expect to see or be a part of."

The woman, 29-year-old Danielle Burnett of Lake Havasu, Ariz., tumbled more than 500 feet to her death on Sept. 5. It's not clear what caused her to lose her footing; park officials say they are investigating the accident.

Burnett's death is the latest on the 8,800-foot peak, which along with El Capitan, is Yosemite's most famous rock formation. Since 2005, there have been at least 13 deaths, 291 accidents and 140 search-and-rescue missions on Half Dome (2010 data not included).

Before 2010, up to 1,200 people per day attempted the climb. But that year, the National Park Service put a 300-person per-day limit on the summit and required hikers to apply for a daily permit. The theory was that fewer people on the mountain would reduce overcrowding and bottlenecks that could lead to accidents, especially in bad weather.

But a 2018 Wilderness & Environmental Medicine study concluded that requiring permits had no effect on the number of accidents and fatalities, suggesting that overcrowding was not the key factor influencing safety. Nor did the researchers find that bad weather was a major factor.

Instead, they hypothesized that due to the relative difficulty of obtaining a permit, those who do receive one might be induced to take risks or overextend themselves because they might not get a second chance to summit.

The climb up Half Dome is protected by cables held up by poles for the last 400 vertical feet. Without the cables, the climb would be impossible for those not equipped with technical climbing gear. Losing your balance and falling or sliding outside the cables is likely to be fatal.

Yosemite Hikes has compiled a checklist for those wanting to undertake the dangerous ascent. Some of the recommendations are common sense, others less obvious. We've compiled what we view as the most important:

—Wear grippy shoes. Common sneakers and hiking boots won't do the job. You need something that clings to the granite surface. Rock-climbing shoes are best, naturally; volleyball shoes should also provide good purchase with the rock.

—Gloves are a necessity. They should be in good shape and not the fingerless type. The idea is to protect against blisters while also providing a good grip. Hikers often leave gloves at the bottom of the cables, but their condition is hit or miss. It's smarter to bring your own.

—Invest in a harness to which you can attach carabiners via a y-shaped lanyard or climbing runners.

—Keep two carabiners attached to the cable (and your harness) as you ascend and descend. That way you'll always be connected to the cable by at least one carabiner when you have to unclip to go around the poles. Should a climber above you slip and slide down, you won't be in danger of falling even if you are knocked off your feet.

—Do not climb if it's raining or if there are thunderclouds.

—Test the poles holding up the cables before you put your weight on them. The poles occasionally come loose over a season of use. (The cables are anchored to the rock, so cable integrity won't be affected by a wobbly pole.)

—Unless you're equipped with Depends, be sure to pee before you ascend. You won't have an opportunity to relieve yourself after you begin your climb.

---

Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Digital Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate.