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Tag: higher cathedral spire

  • Yosemite Climber Falls 30 Feet from Rock Face

    Yosemite Climber Falls 30 Feet from Rock Face

    A 26-year-old male rock climber fell roughly 30 feet from a granite rock face at Yosemite National Park’s Cathedral range Sunday, and was airlifted out after sustaining severe injuries. The unidentified hiker from Palo Alto, California had been trekking with three others, before falling onto a rock bench approximately 1,000 feet up.

    Officer Andrea Brown, of the California Highway Patrol’s Air Operations Division, commented that the injured climber “was wide awake, he gave me a thumbs up and he was OK,” though was in too much pain to move. “He landed on a ledge, and was laying prone on the rocks,” Brown added. The climber is presently in stable condition at a Modesto hospital, after being transported from the Higher Cathedral Spire.

    Brown said that the rescue operation was a bit tricky, due to inclement weather. “It would have been OK if the winds were calm, but the winds were a little silly,” she said, adding that in terms of difficulty, she would rate the operation a “7 or 8 out of 10.” Brown also praised the CHP rescuers, stating that they are “world-class rock climbers, but not only can they climb, they can start IVs and give medical aid while suspended on ropes. They’re pretty studly.”

    Here is some footage of the Higher Cathedral Spire at Yosemite:

    Yosemite spokeswoman Kari Cobb called the park a “mecca for climbing,” and pointed out that the Higher Cathedral Spire is a popular destination. “It’s a very well-known climb,” Cobb said. “It’s something that is typically done on weekends on a regular basis. These guys were not on something that is rarely climbed.”

    The Higher Cathedral Spire is rated at a 5.4 on the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), which is a three-part system used for grading the difficulty of walks, hikes and climbs. Cobb said that Yosemite typically sees one or two fatalities a year due to climbing accidents.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Yosemite Climber Falls 30 Feet After Scaling Higher Cathedral Spire

    Rescue teams had to pluck a Palo Alto rock climber from a popular Yosemite rock formation after he fell 30 feet. The 26-year-old climber, whose name has not been released, was the second person to be rescued this week from Yosemite National Park.

    Now in stable condition, the climber is said to have suffered from major injuries after the fall. A California Highway Patrol Helicopter was sent out to the scene after he was unable to move from the severe pain.

    The Palo Alto resident and his climbing partner were scaling Higher Cathedral Spire, one of many popular near-vertical granite pinnacles. Around 10 a.m, about 15 feet away from the next anchor point, the climbing team encountered trouble and the climber fell onto a rock bench close to 500 feet above the valley floor.

    The California Highway Patrol’s Air Operations Division had difficulty reaching the injured man due to the tough terrain and formidable winds. Officer Andrea Brown, who was the medic aboard the CHP helicopter, stated that in terms of difficulty, she would rate the operation a “7 or 8 out of 10.”

    Close to being carried down the rugged slopes on foot, rescue teams were able to secure the man on an air splint and elevate him into the helicopter.

    He was transported to a hospital in Modesto, where he is in serious but stable condition.

    Climbers from all over the world travel to Yosemite to try to conquer the valley’s famous peaks, with Higher Cathedral Spire being one of the more popular destinations. Park officials claim that most climbers are highly skilled, but rescues are very common.

    Just last Tuesday a rescue crew was also sent out to aid a woman in Tenaya Creek who experienced back pain. She too found herself unable to walk, and left in up to the highly trained National Park Service and the CHP rescue team to get her out safely.

    Higher Cathedral Spire Summit

    Image via Wikimedia Commons