Death on the Dome: Epidemiology of Recreational Deaths on Half Dome in Yosemite National Park

Abstract

Half Dome is a popular destination in Yosemite with inconsistent public reporting of recreational mortality. The highest number of deaths in a single source is 20. Multimedia sources describing deaths involving the cables, summit, climbing, or base jumping were included. Deaths occurring on trails were excluded. Twenty-nine deaths occurred on Half Dome, with 2 additional deaths likely. The earliest was in 1930. The rate of 1 to 2 deaths per decade ended in the 1980s, which saw 8 fatalities. The 2000s had 9 fatalities. This decade has 4 deaths currently. The typical profile is a 32-year-old hiking man (only 4 women were reported); the median age is 27 years (range 16–86). Hikers (12; 39%) predominated, followed by 9 climbers (29%). The most common mechanism was climbing incidents related to lost anchors (5), free climber falls (3), and head injury from rock fall (1). Fatal hiker falls from the cables (7) were occasionally weather related (3), and 71% (5) occurred on descent. Lightning caused 3 summit deaths and a cable-related death. Medical mortality, in 3 hikers, was attributed to cardiac causes (2) and altitude illness (1). There were 8 suicides (29%). Base jumping fatalities (2) resulted from chute malfunction and wind slamming a jumper into Half Dome’s face. We identified 31 Half Dome deaths, the highest published. A minority of deaths were attributable to unfavorable weather or unskilled hikers, despite this being a popular assertion. Climber accidents, often unpublicized, challenge the assumption that this increasingly popular sport is safe. These findings urge a particular educational focus on accidents during descent of the cables, a renewed focus on suicide prevention, and prompt consideration of permitting climber access to reduce mortality on Half Dome.