Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Hiker falls to her death in Yosemite National Park
Over this past weekend, a hiker in Yosemite National Park fell to her death while descending from Half Dome, one of the park's more iconic landmarks. This latest fatality is the 14th this year in Yosemite, a park that is amongst the most popular in the entire U.S. system.According to this report from the Associated Press, early in the day Sunday, 26-year old Haley LaFlamme and three of her companions set out to hike the Half Dome trail, one of the best known treks in the entire park. As the morning progressed, a surprise thunderstorm moved into the area, bringing steady rains and dangerous lightning along with it. That treacherous combination of weather caused the group to turn back, and as they were making their way down the slick granite face of Half Dome, Haley slipped, falling 600 feet to her death on the rocks below. A 911 call was immediately placed to the ranger station, but by the time they reached the site of the accident it was too late.
When she fell, LaFlamme was negotiating the Half Dome cables, which are put in place each year to aid climbers with the steeper sections of the hike. That area of the trail can be challenging on a typical day, but when the rock becomes wet, it can be especially treacherous. Another hiker fell to his death on the same section back in 2009.
The high number of deaths in the park this year are due in no small part because of heavy snows that fell across the western United States this past winter. The region saw some of the highest accumulations of snow ever, and the powder stayed on the ground well into the spring. When it finally did begin to melt off, it caused Yosemite's rivers and streams to rise dramatically, catching some visitors by surprise. Two weeks ago, three people were swept to their deaths over Vernal Falls, when they misjudged the depth and strength of the water there.
It is sometimes easy to forget just how dangerous the outdoors can be, especially when you're in a national park that has so many great resources right at your fingertips. Stories like this one are a sobering reminder for us to be cautious and aware when we're in these beautiful wilderness settings.
Filed under: Climbing, Hiking, North America, United States, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dan O. Sep 17th 2011 12:37AM
Having lived in california for almost 50 years, And been to Yosemite Nat'l Park more then I can count, I can attess to the danger in the outdoors. As stated in the story, the Sierra Nevada mountains are made of granite. You might think Granite is tough, but is does errode and break down faster then a lot of other stone. The Face of Half Dome has had 100,000's people hike it. It is worn smooth and slick. By it's very nature it is dangerous even dry in the summer time. This goiing without saying that granite rocks in the Sierras, where ever there's a lot of foot traffic the granite is slippery. You can twist an ankle walking on flat level ground , if you step on worn slik granite.
As to the dangers of water, Think of it as liquid metal. The force that it contains is NO MATCH for man or beast. It is without doubt that it's the most deadly element on the planet. Fear it as you would Grizzly Bear, and Respect it for what it can do.. The life you save could be your own.
magicdog39 Sep 17th 2011 10:01AM
I'm on the east coast. I have saw railroad tracks bent back in a "U" shape just from flood water. If you are unlucky enough to find a little "keeper hole" below a small two foot high falls you just might not live to tell about it. Water will find a way to kill you if you are dumb enough to play around with it.