Having hiked a lot in Yosemite and climbed Half Dome when I was much younger, I can not imagine a survey party wanting to drag themselves and their equipment up there. Even with the "ladder" ( ladder picture ) installed by the Park Department on the east side, it's a steep climb in thin air from the end of the pack trail to the top of the dome. The peak of Cloud's Rest (2 miles NE), along with Mount Hoffman and Red Peak are much more accessible.