>"Hey Singer, while you're on a roll with dispensing yosemite beta, I might put my hand up too
>I know some folk who are going over in a month and are keen to trundle up the cables on half dome. >They aren't climbers but are experienced with scrambly hiking. I've heard various things including a >suggestion that five tennies and riggers gloves are worthwhile. What do you reckon?"
There is a huge pile of crappy gloves at the base but if you go when it's crowded most of them will be gone and you'll be left with the even crappier ones. Best to bring your own, and yes, they're kind of nice to have. Five tennies, or sticky rubber, is good as the rock is ultra polished in the cables. I run down the outside (have never been up the cables, only down) on the side away from the big drop (obviously) because the rock is still a bit sticky out there and there are no people. The photo does the scene justice, it turns into a mega cluster up there; I think 3 people took the ride last year. However, the key piece of beta, especially if your friends are the scrambling type, is to use the Liberty Cap/Mt. Broderick approach. It's awesome! Here's a map in which it's labeled as the "summer shortcut":
This is actually showing the approach to Snake Dyke, but you do the same thing but just point it through the woods toward the shoulder that has the cables.
Tell you friends to contact me if they want more detailed beta.