04/18/24
June 25, 2009
The Perils of Climbing Yosemite's Half Dome: Although it looks in pictures like something any hiker could do, climbing Half Dome at Yosemite National Park is a lot different when you're halfway up the 425-foot sheer granite dome. "On June 13, 2009, a hiker climbing up the Half Dome cables in Yosemite National Park fell to his death," writes R.L. Miller in a diary on Daily Kos. "I climbed Half Dome for my 40th birthday. I've hiked all over the West in all sorts of conditions, and I believed that I had no fear of heights. ... if you fall to your right, you die, and if you fall to your left, you die. About a third of the way up, I realized -- I can't do this!"
Say wha? There's a little political stuff at the end, but it's mostly about Half Dome.
posted by rcade at 10:51 AM on June 26, 2009
Just teasing. I felt like the thread was orphaned and lonely with no comments, and thought knee-jerk was the way to go. (By the way, even the "political" stuff at the end is pretty innocuous.) My non-political political view is that if people engage in risky behavior, they should pay back the government when it (park service, emergency rescue teams, etc.) bails them out. Half Dome is a harder proposition though, because it is the government that has put up (and maintains) the means of getting up there.
posted by holden at 01:50 PM on June 26, 2009
I guess a nationalized healthcare system would solve the issue then.
posted by WolfpackMD at 02:08 PM on June 26, 2009
Great articles Rcade. I got chills just looking at the photo.
And what are these liberals talking about? 40 million poor people uninsured? Then they should just go make more money. Problem solved.
posted by cjets at 02:18 PM on June 26, 2009
My non-political political view is that if people engage in risky behavior, they should pay back the government when it (park service, emergency rescue teams, etc.) bails them out.
This is already the practice in New Hampshire, but only when there is negligence on the part of the rescued party. If there is truly an unforeseen situation, such as a fall, landslide, or the like, you will get taken care of for free. If you are dumb enough to try to tackle one of the mountains without adequate equipment, clothing, or preparation, it will cost you to get bailed out.
posted by Howard_T at 03:57 PM on June 26, 2009
Typical liberal claptrap.