It also would give climbers a false sense of security. Half Dome is dangerous. And that's as it should be. National parks ...

Even the nearly vertical north face of Half Dome is out of the question for all but the most experienced climbers. But thanks to the cables, any fit flatlander with a firm grip and steely nerves ...

Word of his two-hour-and-50-minute free solo of Half Dome flashes around the world. Climbers are stunned, and bloggers buzz. On this warm fall day in 2008 the nerdy, plays-Scrabble-with-his-mom 23 ...