Is Mount Starr King really Half Dome without the crowds? Like Half Dome, it is a large granite dome near Yosemite Valley, rising to a similar, in fact slightly higher altitude (9092’ versus 8836’ for Half Dome). With its extra 250 feet, you actually look down on the summit of Half Dome. The standard route up Half Dome was pioneered in 1875 by George Anderson. The standard route up Starr King was pioneered in 1877 by none other than George Anderson. Like Half Dome, you have 360-degree views across the Clark Range and the Sierra Crest. But there’s more! Unlike Half Dome, from Starr King, you actually get a view of Half Dome. And with Starr King, instead of some cut-rate partial half dome, you even get a full and entire dome.
So what don’t you get? There’s no view of Yosemite Valley, no cables, no trail, no view of Starr King, and no throngs of thousands of people jostling with you on the final ascent. Oh yes, and the easiest route is considered 5.0 by Secor, which is to say that it is at the bottom end of what is considered technical climbing, requiring ropes and technical gear. Of course, the old Roper guidebook put it at fourth class (hardly!) and the Spencer Southern Yosemite book puts it at 5.4 or 5.5 (out of print and 
selling at $90 on Amazon, so I don't and won't own this one!).
5.0 is sort of a Catch-22 of climbing. Most people who actually know how to use climbing gear find it unnecessary to use said gear on a 5.0. Most people who don’t know how to use climbing gear would find it rather disconcerting to scramble up something quite this steep. Obviously, experienced peak baggers like George Anderson would be the exceptions. In short, though quite easy for anyone used to technical climbing, if you slip and are not being belayed, you could die. Let’s say that again a little more clearly: If you slip from a good ways up and you are not roped up, you will almost certainly die. This is a summit for climbers, peak baggers and mountaineers, but not for people who would be challenged by the Half Dome Cables Route.
