YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CA – A deadly accident claimed the life of a 20-year-old Arizona college student, who slipped and fell while descending Yosemite National Park’s famous Half Dome during a sudden thunderstorm. Officials and relatives have identified the deceased as Grace Rohloff.
Rohloff was on a hike with her father on July 13. They had both reached the summit of Half Dome successfully, but a sudden downpour made the descent along the mountain’s challenging cable route daunting. Rohloff’s father, Jonathan, noted that Grace slipped on a wet rock and fell down the side of the Half Dome, resulting in her tragic death.
Jonathan described the accident, recounting that Grace slipped between the wooden blocks installed for hiker safety. He expressed his shock that the cheerful moment of reaching the summit swiftly turned into a tragic nightmare. Jonathan hopes that the cable system at Half Dome can be made safer to prevent future accidents.
Grace Rohloff was a student at Arizona State University studying education. She aspired to work as a student-teacher at Valley Lutheran High School, her Alma mater. The school has planned a celebratory event to honor Grace’s life this upcoming Saturday.
Yosemite National Park representatives have yet to release a statement regarding Rohloff’s accident.