Posted on 07/24/2024 10:26:20 AM PDT by NohSpinZone
On July 13, during a heavy rainstorm in Yosemite National Park, an Arizona State University student slipped and fell to her death from the Half Dome cables.
Park officials did not issue a statement about the death and declined to comment for this story. But Jonathan Rohloff — who was descending the cables with his 20-year-old daughter Grace when she slipped — confirmed that she did not survive.
“Grace was such a beautiful soul,” he said in a phone interview with SFGATE. “She deserves to have her story told.”
The father-daughter duo had hiked together countless times and over thousands of miles — up to Angels Landing in Zion National Park, down into the Grand Canyon and all over mountains across their home state of Arizona. So when Grace secured a permit to hike Half Dome through the daily lottery system on July 11, they were ecstatic.
They cleared their schedules to drive from Phoenix to Yosemite the following day, and on the day after that, they set out on the strenuous 16-mile trail at about 8 a.m. A ranger told them there were storms in the forecast, and at times, they did notice clouds overhead. But when the pair reached the bottom of Half Dome’s famous cables a little after noon, the sky was perfectly clear, Rohloff said.
They proceeded with other hikers up the 400-foot stretch of the trail supported by the cable system. When they arrived at the top, the panoramic views of Yosemite Valley and the High Sierra were outstanding. As Rohloff snapped photos of his daughter, he marveled at how beautiful and fearless she was. Grace told her father she was amazed to have climbed Half Dome — an item on her bucket list — and that she loved him.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
The couple of times I was at Yosemite I was looking out from Glacier Point and Yosemite Falls wondering how many people fall off these things every year.
There is really no way to make them “safe” and still accessible. I kept safe by keeping my fat behind far away from the edges. And that wasn’t always far enough to keep my stomach from puckering.
“Later in the article it explains that the pair were experienced and could have bounded down the mountain much quicker but were hampered by less experienced hikers who were scared and going slowly.”
None of the “less experienced” hikers fell.
I had the same reaction.
When I was younger, I did a lot of foolish things.
Such a tragedy to lose such a young person. It can honestly be said she died doing what she loved to do. Experienced and trained people that engage in these types of activities know the risk—in fact, it is part of the enjoyment and thrill that there are risks and they accept that as a challenge. All it takes, however, is one little misstep, even for the most experienced. May she rest in peace.
“...the pair were experienced and could have bounded down the mountain much quicker...”
Actually, she did...much, much quicker!
It always has— the “fight or flight” biochemical mechanisms designed to protect the organism. Things like selective localized increased blood pressure and release of stored glycogen to muscles of the legs for instant burst of energy to run away, for example. The endorphins that create fearful caution and slowing down with careful steps— is another.
The notion in the article about “wet” cables just screamed— “stupid”.
sorry this girl had to go so soon. Prayers for her family and that God shows the bigger reasons for all this.
No protection like via ferrata gear or a harness to snap in, storm warnings from rangers. And they raw dogged it anyway.
Stupid. Now she’s dead for she and her dad’s adrenaline chase.
Looks dicey in nice weather, let alone a heavy rainstorm.
I have never climbed half-dome, but with the rails/cables, using a waist arrest harness during the rain would have been ideal.
constantly locking and unlocking the carabiners would probably drive people behind them crazy, but it sounds like everyone was moving slowly anyway.
Going up or going down that looks tough and dangerous.
“Sometimes fear serves a purpose.”
Well, I certainly fit that description but the unfortunate young lady didn’t fall because of boldness — she fell because of slippery shoe soles that let go in the rain even as her speed was constrained.
I’ve been up several times. Just a couple years ago even given that I avoid California but was visiting family. The bigger worry up there is getting struck by lightning.
She would have been better off removing her shoes in hindsight.
I have been in Yosemite recently and had a good look at this hike. It is so steep and there are so many climbers on it. Just overcrowded.
I would never dare to go there.
And, I am basically very experienced hiker, but is skip everything which looks dangerous.
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