Woman falls 500 feet from death while hiking at Half Dome in Yosemite National Park

A 29-year-old woman died Thursday after a 500-foot fall from a dangerous hiking trail in the top of Yosemite National Park in California, according to a park official.

Danielle Burnett, of Arizona, dropped Yosemite's Half Yome cables before Thursday noon, falling to 500 feet in steep, rocky terrain, Park spokeswoman Scott Gediman said. She died when park guards arrived at the scene.

Officials investigate death.

The Half Dome hike in Yosemite is a "big challenge", according to the park's website. "For the most part, it's an exciting and arduous trek, for some it becomes more of an adventure than they wish," says the site.

The dome is 2800 meters above sea level and the round trip is more than 14 km (round trip) and lasts 10 to 12 hours, sometimes more.

The last part of the hike includes two wire cables, the Half Dome Cables, which allow hikers to climb the remaining 400 feet up to the summit without having to use any climbing equipment, depending on the park.

Licenses are needed for hikers who want to climb the cables and "you can not do anything to ensure your safety," says the Yosemite website.