My first big hike was Half Dome 6/16/2007. While coming down I along with hundreds on the cable witness a Japanese hiker, Hirofumi Nohara (age 37) of Japan fell from the top of the cable. In the days after the incident there were plenty of suggestions in all the published media.
Personally, safety is now always on my mind from planning to execution. Since then I have gone back and hike Half Dome many times for training. Sadly, I still see many hikers without any clue to basic safety. Yet, I cannot say that I am better than them, or that I will be home free. Hiking/climbing is forever risky and dangerous. We have to be the one to look out for the risk, manage it or avoid it. No one else (either hiking partners, or government) can do it for us. Please hike/climb safe!
