Yosemite National Park has made permanent a divisive overnight rock climbing permitting system aimed at protecting wilderness and monitoring visitors as the sport has grown rapidly in popularity.
Following a two-year pilot period, the permits are now officially required for those attempting "big wall" climbs like El Capitan or Half Dome, which are so difficult they typically take more than one day to complete — meaning climbers must camp along the rock face. Permits are not necessary for single or part-day climbs.
While the permits are free and unlimited, the process has drawn disdain from some free-spirited adventurers over the last few months. Park officials wouldn't immediately confirm when the new permit system officially went into effect, but the San Francisco Chronicle reported it was earlier this month.
