After a years of overcrowding and potentially dangerous situations on the Half Dome cables in Yosemite National Park, a new system has been put in place. To reduce the amount of people on the cables at one time, you’ll need to reserve your climb in advance.

On Monday, March 1 the online registration system went live at www.recreation.gov. Spaces went quickly and as of this writing, the only available date was Monday, May 31. It appears that reservation sales will be in stages; currently the only dates that were made available for this first sale were for dates in May and June. Reservations for the climb itself are free but a nominal charge for processing will be added when you book the tickets.

After last summer’s tragic accident on the cables, the National Park Service decided to implement a new approach to keep visitors safe. Permits will only be required on weekends and holidays (so if you are planning a climb on a Wednesday, no need to worry about availability). NPS is also limiting the permits to 400 per day to keep the crowds to a reasonable number.

In addition to the permit registration, you’ll also be able to find more detailed information about the Half Dome climb, including requirements and advice for those planning a trip and instructions on how to book your climb online.

-via The Yosemite Blog