Yosemite Half Dome cable permits will be required seven days a week during 2011 summer season

Yosemite National Park officials announced Monday that day-use permits to climb the Half Dome cables will be required seven days a week for the 2011 summer season.

An interim program that required permits on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays was implemented by the National Park Service in 2010 to better regulate the number of hikers using the cable system. Safety issues  have arisen from crowding, which has also led to long waits on the popular hike. 

Although the interim program worked well on the permit days, visitor use on the cables during days when permits were not required reached peak weekend levels -- thus the change to a seven-day-per-week requirement for next year's summer season. 

The Half Dome day-use permits will be available starting March 1, 2011 for climbing the cables in May and June 2011. Subsequent permits will be available at the beginning of each month for permits three months in advance. 

Reservations for a permit can be made through www.recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777. Up to four permits may be obtained under one reservation, with each person climbing the Half Dome cables required to have their own. Permits are free, but there is a nonrefundable $1.50 service charge for each permit obtained.

The Half Dome cables are generally in place from mid-May through mid-October, depending on snowpack and weather conditions.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: A view of Yosemite's Half Dome and climbers using the cable. Credit: Scott Gediman / National Park Service

No-spill hydration bottles and travel mug make handy stocking stuffers

Those looking for a little something as a holiday stocking stuffer might want to check out the line of drinking products from Contigo. With "autoseal" no-spill technology in their travel mug and hydration bottles, these would seem to be gifts that actually might be used -- by an active outdoorsman, commuter or anyone who likes to take beverages along.

It's press-to-sip drinking, with no lids to remove or spouts to open. And the large-mouth bottleneck opening on the hydration bottles accommodates the addition of ice cubes and/or powdered drink mixes.

The Contigo autoseal water bottle is made from BPA-free plastic and includes a handle with an integrated carabiner clip. The suggested retail price is $12.99 for the 24-fluid-ounce bottle and $14.99 for the 32-ounce one.

The travel mug has a 16-fluid-ounce capacity and fits most automobile cupholders. It features a double-wall design and vacuum-insulated construction that eliminates condensation and keeps drinks hot for up to four hours and cold for up to 12 hours. The mug, with a suggested retail price of $19.99, is available in a stainless-steel finish or a variety of colors.

My favorite is the Kangaroo hydration bottle, one of Contigo's newer products. The Kangaroo has a handy fold-down compartment for stowing a key, some cash or cards such as an ID or gym membership, making it handy to take along even when walking the dogs.

The Kangaroo also offers an integrated carabiner and a flip-up handle and holds up to 24 fluid ounces. Suggested retail price: $12.99.

Contigo autoseal products are available at a variety of national retailers including Target, Sears and Amazon.com as well as online at GoContigo.com.

-- Kelly Burgess
twitter.com/latimesoutposts

Photo: Kangaroo hydration bottle with the compartment open. Credit: Contigo

Powermonkey-eXplorer portable solar charger uses the sun to power iPods, cell phones and other devices

Solar-powered outdoor gear seems all the rage these days, and with good reason. Harboring the useful power-generating abilities of the sun is an idea whose time has come, especially if out hiking, camping or anyplace where one can't just plug in and recharge cellular phones, iPods or other electronic devices.

Enter the Powermonkey-eXplorer. This portable charger is capable of holding enough power to provide an additional 96 hours of standby time on mobile phones, 40 hours of playtime for iPods, five hours on game consoles, 48 usage hours on PDAs and six hours on MP3 or MP4 players. Equipped with compact solar panels, the Powermonkey-eXplorer can also be used to charge devices directly from the sun.

Featuring an LCD screen that displays battery capacity and the level of charge, the Powermonkey-eXplorer also has short-circuit, over-charging and anti-discharging protection. The exterior shell is made of rubberized casing, making it water resistant while helping protect it from nicks and dings even in the roughest situations. Designed for lightweight versatility, the Powermonkey-eXplorer comes with a Velcro strap, handy to attach the solar panel to a backpack for sun exposure to charge devices while on the go.

Yosemite's Half Dome cables go up for the season on Wednesday, June 16

The cables allowing access for hikers to the summit of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park will be in place and open for the season Wednesday, June 16.

Visitors are required to have a permit to ascend the Half Dome cables on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.  The majority of permits have been reserved, though those still interested in trying to get one should visit www.recreation.gov for more information and availability. Permits are not required for using the Half Dome cables Monday through Thursday, and visitors hiking the trail leading to the cables do not need a permit.

This interim permit program, implemented this year by the National Park Service, is part of an effort to better regulate the number of hikers using the cable system to get to the top of Half Dome and address safety issues that have arisen from crowding, which has led to unsafe conditions and long waits.

Park rangers would like to remind visitors that they should take appropriate precautions when planning a hike of this length and difficulty, and to be prepared for changing weather and trail conditions. Thunder and lightning are common in the High Sierra during the summer and fall.  Hikers should not attempt to summit Half Dome during thunderstorms and are advised to use extreme caution when the rocks are wet.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Hikers scale the steel cables that traverse Half Dome's sloping northeast face. Credit: Los Angeles Times

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Teva Mountain Games begin Thursday in Vail, Colo.

The Teva Mountain Games will kick off its eclectic mix of adventure sports, art and entertainment Thursday in Vail, Colo. The ninth annual event taking place through Sunday expects about 2,000 athletes to compete in 24 disciplines in eight sports, all vying for portions of a prize purse totaling more than $100,000.

Hosted by the Vail Valley Foundation, sporting events will include IFSC World Cup Bouldering competition -- the only World Cup bouldering event taking place in the U.S. -- as well as stand-up paddle boarding events, a discipline new to the games this year.

The games will also host competitions featuring some of the world's top athletes in each sport, competing alongside amateurs of all levels in trail running, kayaking, rafting, mountain biking, road cycling, amateur climbing, fly-fishing and a half-marathon.

In addition to all the adventure sports, there will be a photography competition, an interactive exhibition and demonstration area, DockDogs canine competitions, the Serac Adventure Film School, concerts and mountain lifestyle parties.

The games offer a family-friendly atmosphere with myriad free activities for all ages, including an adventure clinic on back-country and mountain preparedness, hosted by First Ascent guide Erik Leidecker; a mountaineering clinic hosted by First Ascent guide and mountaineering legend Peter Whittaker; a zip-lining course; the Eukanuba Doggie Dash obstacle course; outdoor film series screenings; free Parkour demonstrations with a hands-on beginner clinic; and the chance to try stand-up paddling with C4 Waterman team member and stand-up paddle surfing pro Charlie MacArthur.

A schedule of events is available on the Teva Mountain Games website.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: A pro kayak freestyle competitor at the 2009 Teva Mountain Games. Credit: Shane Macomber Photography

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Rock climber falls from Yosemite's El Capitan, sustains head and chest injuries

A rock climber fell while scaling El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, sustaining head and chest injuries.

The 48-year-old man from France was climbing with a partner Thursday evening when he fell approximately 65 feet from El Cap Spire, part of the climbing route on El Capitan called the Salathe Wall, approximately 1,600 feet above Yosemite Valley. A second party on the route was able to provide basic emergency medical assistance until park rangers arrived.

Darkness prevented a helicopter from flying to the scene Thursday, so the injured climber, his companion and two other climbers stayed on site overnight. Two rangers were flown to the site early Friday morning to further assist the injured climber and prepare him for transport. Once secured, the man was airlifted to Doctors Medical Center of Modesto.

The cause of the climber’s fall is unknown.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: El Capitan towers over the Yosemite Valley floor. Credit: Los Angeles Times

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New eyewear allows for hands-free video recording

Time for a new pair of sunglasses? You might want to check out i-Kam Xtreme eyewear, which allows the wearer to be their own videographer.

That's because each pair features a built-in video recording device, allowing for hands-free recording of your latest outdoor adventure. Be it hunting, fishing, skiing or even a ballgame, outdoor enthusiasts of all types have an easy way to record what they see, and play it back later for future enjoyment.

With no cords or battery packs required, the glasses have a digital camera incorporated into the frame, offering 4GB of built-in memory for up to 3 hours of recording, plus an integral microphone to capture all the sounds to go along with the video. The eyewear  will also accept a Micro SD card for an additional 8 GB of memory. 

The glasses can be hooked directly to a PC or Mac with the supplied USB cable to view video. When using a Micro SD card, it can be inserted into a card reader to watch footage.

Fred Hall Show opens Wednesday at the Long Beach Convention Center

The 64th annual Fred Hall Fishing Tackle and Boat Show hits Southern California this week, opening Wednesday at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center.

Occupying nearly 750,000 square feet of space, this extravaganza of exhibits and seminars is a must-visit for any outdoor enthusiast.

To refer to the Fred Hall Show as a fishing tackle and boat show seems a misnomer these days. The exhibitor list has grown to include hunting lodges, firearms manufacturers, outdoor adventures, shooting sports and fishing destination resorts worldwide.

But not to worry -- fishing will still be well represented in the approximately 600 vendor booths and 400 seminars taking place over five days. Plus, 16 boat dealers representing 30 watercraft manufacturers will be on site.

"The Fred Hall Shows, both in Long Beach and Del Mar, are the only major boat shows left in California," Bart Hall, Fred's son, told Outposts. "The boating industry in this state has been decimated by the recession -- nearly 50 dealers statewide have gone out of business -- but last year there was no recession at the Fred Hall Shows, and we expect it to be the same this year as well."

Yosemite Half Dome cable permits for May and June available beginning Monday

Just a reminder that Yosemite National Park day-use permits will be required for those wanting to use the cable system to the top of Half Dome.

Reservations for May and June permits will be accepted starting Monday, March 1, at 7 a.m.

This interim program, implemented by the National Park Service, is being done in an effort to better regulate the number of hikers using the cable system, to address safety issues that have arisen from crowding, which has led to unsafe conditions and long waits on the popular hike.

The Half Dome day-use permits will only be required on weekends, including Fridays, as well as holidays. Four hundred will be issued per day, with 100 of those to be included in wilderness permits. The permits are required for the use of the trail from the base of the subdome to the summit of Half Dome and include the Half Dome cable route.

It is anticipated that the demand for permits will be high, so those interested in obtaining them should, prior to Monday, read the step-by-step instructions posted on recreation.gov on how to secure a reservation. 

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: A winter look at Half Dome. Credit: Dan Blackburn / Image Associates

RELATED:

Yosemite will require permits for Half Dome hikes, starting in May

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Visitation to national parks increases in 2009

Perhaps a sign of the economic times, or inspired by Ken Burns’ popular documentary series, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” 10 million more people visited national parks last year than in 2008, a 3.9% increase.

More than 285.5 million people visited national parks during 2009, close to the all-time visitation record of 287.2 million in 1987.

The most-visited national park last year was the Great Smoky Mountains. At more than 9.4 visitors, it surpassed the second- and third-most-visited parks combined (Grand Canyon, 4.3 million and Yosemite, 3.7 million).

No matter the reason, it's great to hear that both American and foreign tourists took advantage of the opportunity to get outside and enjoy the natural treasures that make up the national park system.

The top 10 most visited national parks were:

  -- Great Smoky Mountains, 9,491,437 visitors
  -- Grand Canyon, 4,348,068
  -- Yosemite, 3,737,472
  -- Yellowstone, 3,295,187
  -- Olympic, 3,276,459
  -- Rocky Mountain, 2,822,325
  -- Zion, 2,735,402
  -- Cuyahoga Valley, 2,589,288
  -- Grand Teton, 2,580,081
  -- Acadia, 2,227,698

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Winter in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Credit: National Park Service

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Yosemite will require permits for Half Dome hikes, starting in May

In an effort to better regulate the number of hikers using the cable system to the top of Half Dome, Yosemite National Park will begin requiring day-use permits for the popular climb when the cables are put back up in May.

This interim program, implemented by the National Park Service, is being done in an effort to address safety issues that have arisen from crowding, which has led to unsafe conditions and long waits.

The Half Dome day-use permits will only be required on weekends, including Fridays, as well as holidays. Four hundred will be issued per day, with 100 of those to be included in wilderness permits. The permits are required for the use of the trail from the base of the subdome to the summit of Half Dome and include the Half Dome cable route.

The hike has become extremely popular, and crowded. About 84,000 people climbed to the top of Half Dome in 2008. Last summer, daily visitor numbers on peak days were estimated to be 1,100 to 1,200.

This overcrowding on the cables has led to unsafe conditions and long waits. Last year, Manoj Kumar, 40, of San Ramon, Calif., fell to his death from the cables. The previous weekend, a woman fell during a rainstorm and sustained serious injury.

Oregon may require locator beacons for Mt. Hood expeditions

The recent death and disappearance of three climbers on Oregon's 11,249-foot Mt. Hood has revived debate about requiring mountaineers to carry personal locator beacons on the mountain.

Following an eerily similar incident in 2007 -- one climber was found dead and two others never located -- the Oregon Legislature considered a bill requiring winter climbers to carry the device, though it never passed the Senate.

Backers of such a stipulation contend that locator beacons would help search-and-rescue teams pinpoint lost climbers, reducing the risk for those searching, and saving time and expense.

Those opposing such a requirement believe it could lead to climbers taking excessive risks because they assume they will be located and rescued.

As a casual hiker, I would never attempt to ascend mountains such as Mt. Whitney or Mt. Hood -- locator beacon or not -- knowing they are out of my league.

But I'm curious what readers' thoughts are. Would personal locator beacons be a good idea to help track down the lost and reduce risk to rescuers, or would hikers and climbers attempt more difficult paths, believing that if they got stuck or lost someone would come save them?

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Trees in the foreground belie the immensity of Mt. Hood as early morning sunlight glints off the mountain peak. Credit: Don Ryan / Associated Press