Yosemite hiker slips on cables in Half Dome and falls to death during storm
Yosemite hiker slips on cables in Half Dome and falls to death during storm
Father says Grace Rohloff, 20, lost footing about three-quarters into 400ft cables descent and slid down mountain
The name was Grace Rohloff?
Really?
Yosemite needs to issue rain checks for Half Dome permits. They’re so hard to get, people don’t want to miss out on their Instagram moment. People will still make bad choices but at least you would know that’s not a factor.
Climbing during a storm? What a dumbass. Would have died from something else eventually, like forgetting to breathe.
That seems pretty harsh. Also they weren't rock climbing, it's a 14 mile hike where only the last 400 ft involves scaling rock using two metal cables to hold onto, and the storm didn't roll in until they were making their descent. She was 20 years old. Very few people die doing this.
Hikes like half dome and angels' landing are super dangerous whether or not people die frequently on them. You're not stupid to do these hikes if you prepare for them, but even if you're prepared, there is still risk.
These hikes can get crowded even with the ticket system, and more and more people rush up these trails to get the shot for their Insta or whatever. Two-way crowds of impatient tourists on these narrow ledges and steep scrambles/climbs are a real issue and even a prepared hiker could get unlucky.
Not to mention other hazards like incliment weather like in this case. Half-dome is a unique weather risk during that final climb because it is just rock. Rock worn extra smooth and made dusty by hikers' boots. If it rains, that dust turns to silty mud and you now have nature's most majestic slip-n-slide.
The national parks make nature accessible, and because it's accessible, people underestimate it and don't respect it like they should.
weren't rock climbing
It is pretty steep, though.
goes looking for a picture
I do agree that it sounds like they weren't trying to be up there during a storm, though.
I would upvote this twice if I could.
Has more details
Ranger told them a storm was forecast
'Experienced hiker' but her boots were new