Yosemite
National Park Rangers and Search and
Rescue Personnel completed a high angle, high risk rescue on El Capitan, in
Yosemite Valley, on Monday, October 22, 2012,
in which a stranded Canadian climber was at risk for hypothermia. The summit of
El Capitan, 7,569 feet above sea level, is the
largest granite monolith in the world. This Yosemite icon attracts rock climbers from across the
globe.
Two rock climbers began ascending a climbing route, known as the
Muir Wall, on El Capitan on Monday, October 14,
2012. The party was due to reach the top of the climb on Sunday night, October
21, just before a large storm, with several inches of snow, was predicted. The
lead climber, a 24-year old male from Ontario, Canada, reached the summit just
before midnight on Sunday night. The second climber, a 40-year old male from
British Columbia, Canada, was
forced to spend the night approximately 230 feet below the summit due to
impending bad weather and a stuck climbing rope.
At approximately 2:00
a.m. on Monday, October 22, the 40-year old climber attempted to deploy a
rainfly over his portaledge (a hanging tent system designed for rock climbers to spend
the night on a rock wall) to provide shelter from the rain/snow. However, during
his attempt he slipped out of his portaledge and fell approximately 15 feet down
the face of the rock. He was able to ascend his rope and secure himself back to
the portaledge, but was unable to properly erect the rainfly. During the night,
the area received approximately four to six inches of snow with nighttime
temperatures in the mid-twenties.
Yosemite Park Rangers were notified of the
possible hypothermic climber midday on Monday, October 22. Due to unfavorable
weather, the park could not secure a helicopter to assist in the rescue and
instead deployed ground teams to respond. Park Rangers Aaron Smith and Ben
Doyle, and Search and Rescue Crew Member Matt Othmer immediately hiked to the
summit of El Capitan to rescue the climber.
Snow, wind, and ice slowed rescue attempts and personnel reached the summit at
approximately 4:00 p.m. The team rigged anchors and immediately began lowering
Park Ranger Smith approximately 230 feet to the climber. Upon arrival, Smith
found the climber to be suffering from exhaustion and mild hypothermia. Smith
attached ropes to the climber, and then ascended the ropes back to the summit.
Using a mechanical advantage system of pulleys, the team was then able to hoist
the climber to the summit.
After warming the climber, the team descended back to
Yosemite Valley via hiking and rappelling, and
reached the Valley floor at approximately 10:00 p.m.
The climber was transported to a
local hospital and is in good
condition.
