Grace Rohloff dies in tragic Yosemite National Park fall
Fatal Yosemite National Park fall of Grace Rohloff – Obituary
Grace Rohloff, a 20-year-old student from Arizona State University, tragically lost her life on July 13 while hiking in Yosemite National Park, as reported by SFGate.
Rohloff had embarked on a 16-mile round-trip hike to the park’s iconic Half Dome with her father, Jonathan Rohloff. They had successfully reached the summit and were enjoying the views when dark storm clouds began to gather.
As they started their descent, the situation quickly deteriorated. Jonathan Rohloff recalled that a black cloud rolled in suddenly, prompting him to hurry down the mountain to avoid the impending rain. Grace, who had recently purchased new hiking shoes for the trek, soon noticed her footwear was not providing adequate grip.
“Dad, my shoes are so slippery,” Grace expressed her concern. The pair’s descent came to a halt when they encountered some inexperienced hikers on the trail.
Jonathan, positioned below Grace, advised her to take the descent slowly. Despite his attempts to calm her, Grace lost her footing and slid past him.
“She just slid off to the side, right by me, down the mountain,” Jonathan described the harrowing moment. “It happened so fast. I tried to reach out, but she was already gone.”
Jonathan estimates that Grace fell approximately 200 to 300 feet, likely hitting her head on the rocks during her fall. Unable to reach his daughter due to the steep incline, he called for help from a nearby hiker.
Desperate to provide some comfort, Jonathan shouted for Grace to signal him if she could hear him. He then joined other witnesses in praying for her.
Erin McGlynn, who witnessed the scene, described it as “one of the most heartbreaking things” she had ever seen but also commended Jonathan’s bravery and composure during the ordeal.
After a tense three-hour wait, rescue teams confirmed that Grace had not survived the fall. The Mariposa County coroner’s office later reported that she died from a head injury.
Jonathan found some solace in knowing that Grace’s death was likely instantaneous, minimizing her suffering. Grace was a dedicated student studying to become a teacher, working multiple jobs, and had extensive hiking experience. She had tackled challenging trails like Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park, even in snowy conditions.
Since 1948, at least 15 fatalities have occurred on Half Dome’s cables and summit, according to The World Travel Guy. While permits are required for the ascent, officials caution against hiking when storm clouds are present or the ground is wet.
In the wake of the tragedy, Jonathan Rohloff has called for improved safety measures on Half Dome to prevent future incidents. “It won’t bring my daughter back, but I want to advocate strongly for a safer way to reach the top,” he stated.
Fatal Yosemite National Park fall of Grace Rohloff – Obituary Grace Rohloff, a 20-year-old student from Arizona State University, tragically lost her life on July 13 while hiking in Yosemite National Park, as reported by SFGate. Rohloff had embarked on a 16-mile round-trip hike to the park’s iconic Half Dome with her father, Jonathan Rohloff.…
Fatal Yosemite National Park fall of Grace Rohloff – Obituary Grace Rohloff, a 20-year-old student from Arizona State University, tragically lost her life on July 13 while hiking in Yosemite National Park, as reported by SFGate. Rohloff had embarked on a 16-mile round-trip hike to the park’s iconic Half Dome with her father, Jonathan Rohloff.…