A college student from Arizona died while she was hiking with her father in Yosemite National Park.
According to reports, Grace fell from the Half Dome. Her father, Jonathan, said she slipped as they were descending from the mountain.
Before Grace fell, Jonathan shared her final words with him. She said that her shoes were slippery, and she suggested that they take one step at a time.
The two had been experienced hikers and were planning on hiking the summit of the Half Dome on July 11.
According to Jonathan, a park ranger informed them about the possibility of showers during their trip to the Half Dome on the 13th.
The weather at that time was perfect, and they reached the summit of the mountain around four hours after starting the hike. However, they soon noticed clouds overhead.
He told SF Gate that the clouds were rolling in “like gangbusters.” He then told them to get down as they didn’t want to get wet.
However, they were eventually held up by the slower climbers.
The father noted that they did not want the other hikers to pass them as they were getting soaked. He said that Grace was worried because her new shoes were slippery.
She then fell as she was three-quarters of a way down the cables.
He said that Grace fell as she was going down the mountain. He said that he tried to get her to the ground but she was already gone.
He then called 911 to inform them that he could not make it down in time. He then prayed with the other hikers who were on the mountain.
According to the father, the coroner informed him that Grace died due to a severe head injury.
He said that it was comforting to know that she didn’t have to suffer. The father also said that Shawna Daly, a park ranger, waited with him for a rescue helicopter for three hours.
The extreme weather worsened as hailstones were being hurled at them.
