Fatal Hiker Fall
June 16, 2007
Half Dome, Cables Route
At approximately 2:52pm park emergency dispatch received a transferred 911 cell phone call stating that a person had fallen from the cables route on Half Dome. The park contract helicopter was requested for aerial support and launched from Crane Flat Heli-base immediately to pick up technical rescuers at the Awahnee Meadow landing zone. Simultaneously a Little Yosemite Valley (LYV) Ranger on patrol in the LYV area was dispatched with medical gear to the shoulder of Half Dome via the John Muir Trail.
Three technical rescuers who are also medically trained as an EMT-P, EMT-I, and EMT-B were flown to the top of the Sub-Dome on the shoulder of Half Dome within approximately 35 minutes of the original 911 call. Rescuers were able to quickly access the site of the victim by rappelling from the base of the Half Dome cables. The subject was pronounced dead on-scene.
A second flight with investigators and additional Technical Rescuers arrived on the Sub-Dome to assist with recovery operations. The subject was raised using a mechanical rope system back to the Sub-Dome and short-hauled via helicopter to the Awahnee Meadow.
The Half Dome hike is a round-trip hike of 17 miles and considered extremely strenuous. Hikers gain 4,800 feet of elevation along the hike that passes such highlights as Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, and summits on Half Dome itself. A series of metal cables are placed along the steep shoulder of the dome to assist hikers to the summit. Visitors are advised to take appropriate precautions when attempting a hike of this length and difficulty, and to be prepared for changing weather and trail conditions.
Rescuers prepare to depart the top of the Sub-Dome. Photo by David Pope.
Flying around the northeast side of Half Dome before landing on the Sub-Dome. Photo by David Pope.
Rescuers depart from the Ahwahnee Meadow enroute to Half Dome. Additional technical equipment is
staged for the second flight. Photo by David Pope.