Yosemite National Park, CA – A tragic hiking trip turned fatal for 20-year-old Grace Rohloff when she slipped and fell 200 feet to her death during a rainstorm, according to her father, Jonathan Rohloff. The incident occurred on July 13 at Yosemite National Park’s renowned rock formation, Half Dome. The pair had successfully ascended the formation and were descending when ominous storm clouds rolled in. As the rain intensified, Grace realized her new hiking shoes were dangerously slippery, moments before losing her footing and sliding past her father. Despite his desperate attempts to save her, Grace tragically fell to her death.
Jonathan Rohloff estimated that his daughter likely hit her head on the rocks during the fall. He was unable to reach her due to the steepness of the mountain and had to rely on another hiker to call for help. After waiting for three grueling hours, a rescue helicopter arrived, but it was too late. The Mariposa County coroner’s office later confirmed that Grace died from a head fracture sustained in the fall.
Grace Rohloff, a student at Arizona State University studying to become a teacher, was an experienced hiker with a passion for challenging trails. She had hiked thousands of miles and enjoyed difficult hikes like Angel’s Landing at Zion National Park. However, her tragic accident at Half Dome raises concerns about safety precautions on the popular trail. Permit holders to ascend Half Dome are cautioned against attempting the climb during wet conditions or when storm clouds are visible.
In the wake of the tragedy, Jonathan Rohloff is advocating for stricter safety measures to prevent further deaths on Half Dome. He described the climb as “unnecessarily dangerous” and emphasized the need for a safer route to the top. Since 1948, at least 15 people have died on the cables and top of Half Dome. The grieving father hopes his efforts will prevent others from experiencing the same devastating loss.