Yosemite National Park - Happy Iles and Half Dome Trail

OMB Control Number: 1024-0224
Expiration Date: 8-31-2014

Yosemite National Park
Half Dome Trail
Visitor Survey
2012

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NOTE: For the purposes of this review and submission the justifications for each question or section of
questions is highlighted in a shaded text box above each question. These text boxes will not be printed
on the final version of the surveys. The Topic Areas noted are consistent with the currently approved
pool questions for the NPS Programmatic Review Process (1024-0224). The questions that are slight
variations are denoted as such. Any questions that are outside the general scope of the programmatic
review process have been carefully discussed and generally approved by the NPS Information Collection
Review Coordinator with understanding that that those questions will require further review and
consideration by OMB before full determination and approval can be granted.
TOPIC AREA 3: TRIPC 3 (variation)
1. Is your hike today part of an overnight backpacking trip or are you a day hiker? (Check one.)
Overnight backpacking trip
Day hiker
Did you stay in the park overnight?  Yes  No
Where are you staying overnight? Check all that apply
 Campground in Yosemite Valley
 Lodging in Yosemite Valley
 Campground in park, outside of the Valley
 Lodging/camping outside Yosemite Valley
 Other: ___________
Go to Question 3
TOPIC AREA 3: TBACK 6
2. If you are an OVERNIGHT BACKPACKER, How many nights did you stay in Yosemite Wilderness
during this stay?  1
 2  3  4 or more
Did you also stay in the park overnight, outside of Yosemite Wilderness during this stay?
Yes
No
TOPIC AREA 3: TRIPC 6
3. How many days will you spend in Yosemite National Park during this visit? __________ # days
TOPIC AREA 3: TRANS 1
4. How did you travel into the park on this visit?
 Car / truck  RV or trailer  Tour bus  YARTS bus
 Other: __________________
TOPIC AREA 3: TRIPC (variation)
5. How did you travel to the trailhead to start your hike?
 Walk/hike  Bicycle  Shuttle bus  Parked at Trailhead/Wilderness Parking
 Other_____________________

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TOPIC AREA 3: ACT 1
6. On this visit, did you participate in other activities while in the park, besides hiking the Half Dome
cables?
 Yes
 No  Go to Question 7
 Viewing scenery (from outside the vehicle)
 Taking scenic drive
 Wildlife viewing/bird watching
 Eating in park restaurant
 Stay in park lodging
 Attend ranger-led programs
 Overnight backpacking
 Camping in developed campground
 Shopping in visitor center bookstore
 Creative arts (photography, painting, drawing,
writing, etc.)

 Shopping inside park (other than at visitor
center bookstore)
 Bicycling
 Day hiking
 Nature study
 Picnicking
 Rock climbing
 Visiting museum
 Visiting visitor center
 Visiting wilderness center
 Other _________________________

TOPIC AREA 2: TPLAN 1
7. a) Prior to this visit, how did you and your personal group obtain information to plan your hike
for the Half Dome cables trail? Please check all that apply in the left column
b) If you were to visit Yosemite National Park in the future, how would you and your personal
group prefer to obtain information about Half Dome cables trail? Please check all that apply in
the right column.
a) Prior to
this visit













b)On future
visits
Obtained no information prior to visit  Go to part b of this question
Previous visits
Friends/relatives/word of mouth
Travel guides/tour books (Please specify: __________________)
Maps/brochures
Newspaper/magazine articles
Inquiry to park via phone, mail, or e-mail
Non-National Park Service television/radio programs/videos
Yosemite National Park website (www.nps.gov/yose) including video
DNC Parks and Resort website: www.yosemitepark.com
Other websites
Other (Please specify: _________________________________)














c) From the sources you used prior to this visit, did you and your personal group receive the type
of information about the hike that you needed?
 No
 Yes
 Go to
Question 8
d) If NO, what type of park information did you and your personal group need that was not
available? Please be specific.
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TOPIC AREA 1: VISITHIS 5 (variation)
8. Including this hike, approximately how many times have you hiked (day and overnight) in the
following areas in in your lifetime?
APPROIMATE
NUMBER OF HIKES
The Half Dome Trail
Yosemite National Park
Other park and Wilderness areas
TOPIC AREA 5: CROWD 1
9. How crowded did you feel at each of the locations listed below? (Circle one number for each
activity/location. If you did not hike at the specified location, check the box in that row)
Not at
all
crowded

Slightly
crowded

Moderately
crowded

Very
crowded

Extremely
crowded

I did not
hike this
location

On the trail from Happy Isles to
Nevada Falls (via the Mist Trail)

1

2

3

4

5



On the trail from Happy Isles to
Nevada Falls (via the Panorama Trail)

1

2

3

4

5



On the trail from Nevada Falls to the
base of the subdome

1

2

3

4

5



On the subdome of Half Dome

1

2

3

4

5



Climbing the cables

1

2

3

4

5



On the summit of Half Dome

1

2

3

4

5



Overall (entire day)

1

2

3

4

5



TOPIC AREA 6: EVALSERV 27
10. There are a variety of ways that visitors have obtained permits for this hike. How did you obtain
your permit for hiking the Half Dome Trail today?
 Official online reservation system
 From another visitor while in the park (not on the trail to Half Dome)
 From another visitor while in the park (on the trail to Half Dome)
 From ranger checking permits at the base of the subdome
 From acquaintance before entering park
 On E-Bay or similar online selling site
 Other _____________

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TOPIC AREA 3: TRIPC34 (variation)
11. How would you describe your experiences today with your Half Dome Trail hike and associated
permit(s)? (Circle one per row or check ‘don’t know’).
Strongly
agree

Agree

Obtaining a Half Dome trail permit was easy to do.

-2

-1

Neither
agree or
disagree
0

The official online reservation system is userfriendly.

-2

-1

My hiking experience on the Half Dome trail was
not too crowded.

-2

The National Park Service should continue using
the permit system.

Disagree

Strongly
disagree

1

2

0

1

2

-1

0

1

2

-2

-1

0

1

2

The current permit system provides opportunities
for solitude in Yosemite Wilderness.

-2

-1

0

1

2

The park should offer some permits as first
come/first serve to visitors.

-2

-1

0

1

2

TOPIC AREA 6: OPMGMT6
12. People have suggested other ways to manage visitor use on the Half Dome cables trail. Please tell
us if you support or oppose these actions. (Circle one per row)
Strongly
oppose

Oppose

Neither
support
or oppose

Support

Strongly
support

Increase informational signs regarding potential
safety/natural hazards at the cables.

-2

-1

0

1

2

Require an orientation (e.g. short video) that
emphasizes visitor safety and Leave No Trace
principles.

-2

-1

0

1

2

Implement a use etiquette education program
regarding use on the cables.

-2

-1

0

1

2

Return to visitor use management conditions prior
to the interim permit system

-2

-1

0

1

2

Require all hikers on this trail to use climbing
specific equipment (harnesses, cordage, and
carabiners) to ascend the cables.

-2

-1

0

1

2

Charge a hiking fee for use of the cables to help
pay for hiker education and safety.

-2

-1

0

1

2

Relocate more rangers along this trail to enforce
Leave No Trace principles, rules and regulations.

-2

-1

0

1

2

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Limit promotion of the cables trail (remove
interpretive photos, work with the concessionaire
to minimize related souvenir sales, etc.) to reduce
use levels on the cables.

-2

-1

0

1

2

TOPIC AREA 1: AGE 1
13. Please tell us a little about yourself and the group you are traveling with today.
a) How many people are in your TOTAL HIKING GROUP today?
b) For the people in your PERMIT GROUP only, please complete sections C through H.
c) Current age

d) U.S. ZIP code or name of
country other than U.S.

e) Number of visits to
Yosemite NP

Yourself

_________

____________

____________

Member #2

_________

____________

____________

Member #3

_________

____________

____________

_________

____________

____________

Member #4

TOPIC AREA 1: RACE/ETH1 and 3 (variation)
f. What is your race? What is the race of each member of your PERMIT GROUP? Please check one
or more for you and each group member.
Yourself

Member
#2

Member
#3

Member
#4

American Indian or Alaska Native









Asian
Black or African American
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
White





















g) Are you or members of your PERMIT GROUP Hispanic/Latino? Please check one for each group
member.
Yourself

Member
#2

Member
#3

Member
#4

Hispanic/Latino









Not Hispanic/Latino









h) Are you or members of your PERMIT GROUP of Middle Eastern/Arab ancestry/descent? Please
check one for each group member.

Arab/Middle Eastern
Not Arab/Middle Eastern

Yourself

Member
#2

Member
#3

Member
#4

















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Please provide additional comments about ways the Park Service can improve visitor use
management and experience on the Half Dome Trail.

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Thank you for your help with this survey!
Please return it to the surveyor.

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT The National Park Service is authorized by 16 U.S.C. 1a-7 to collect this information.
This information will be used by park managers to better understand visitors perceptions of information along the trail and
potential management action the associated with hiking along the Half Dome Trail corridor. Response to this request is
voluntary. No action may be taken against you for refusing to supply the information requested. Please do not put your name
or that of any member of your group on the questionnaire. The permanent data associated with this collection will be
anonymous.
BURDEN ESTIMATE: The public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 10 minutes per response. Direct
comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this form to: the NPS Information Collection Review
Coordinator, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Dr., Fort Collins, CO 80525.

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