Mt Whitney Zone
Posted By: Steve C Mist Trail fatality in Yosemite - 02/25/19 08:25 PM
From Yosemite National Park news:
Quote:
Visitor Fatality in Yosemite National Park
February 25, 2019

At approximately 12:30 p.m. on Sunday February 24, 2019, a park visitor was killed in an incident on the Mist Trail in Yosemite National Park. Xuan Wang, 56, from Cupertino, California was hiking on the trail when she was struck by falling rock and ice and she succumbed to her injuries soon thereafter.

The MIst Trail, a popular trail from Yosemite Valley to the top of Vernal Fall, is closed this time of year due to icy and hazardous conditions. The trail closure is clearly marked and there is a gate on the trail reminding visitors of the closure. Wang ignored the signs, went around the gate and the incident happened on the trail leading to Vernal Fall.

There are no photos available of the incident and it remains under investigation. No further information will be released until the investigation is completed.

Hit by falling rock... what are the odds? Such a sad and unfortunate event.
Posted By: WanderingJim Re: Mist Trail fatality in Yosemite - 02/25/19 09:30 PM
Sad. I was just in Yosemite this weekend.

Tried to go up to the top of Yosemite Falls, but no one had made any tracks past the 1.5 mile point.

And that spot is a particularly narrow spot on the edge of a very sharp drop so I (and all the other hikers up there) did not chance trying to get through.

Sad this woman didn't have the sense to not go around closed gates.
Posted By: Steve C Re: Mist Trail fatality in Yosemite - 02/25/19 10:36 PM
The thing is, people go around that gate often. The Mist Trail is really icy at this time of year, but with crampons, it's not bad.

Getting hit by falling rocks is rare, fortunately. Like being hit by a falling limb. People have been killed by them, too.

...by the way, any pictures you might share of your hike? Yosemite is beautiful right now.
Posted By: WanderingJim Re: Mist Trail fatality in Yosemite - 02/25/19 10:44 PM
The highlights:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/wanderingjim/sets/72157703666507632
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