Yosemite

College student slips on Yosemite’s Half Dome cables, falls to her death

I can’t imagine the heartbreak and pure horror that must have consumed Grace’s father in those moments on the cables of Half Dome. As a parent, the mere thought of enduring such a tragedy is enough to bring tears to my eyes. The image of him reaching out to her, trying to grab hold, but losing her to the elements is truly gut-wrenching. The helplessness and desperation he must have felt as he called out to her, hoping beyond hope that she could somehow hear him, is something that will linger in my mind for a long time to come.

Reading about how the weather turned for the worse, the rain began to fall, and Grace’s hiking boots offered no traction on the slippery granite rock, leading to her tragic fall, is a stark reminder of the dangers of nature.… Continue reading

Professional rock climber sentenced to life in prison for sexual assault at Yosemite National Park

As a climber, hearing about professional rock climber Charles Barrett being sentenced to life in prison for sexual assault at Yosemite National Park hits closer to home than I would like to admit. It’s deeply disheartening to learn that someone within the climbing community, a group I feel connected to and a part of, could engage in such heinous acts. The fact that Barrett assaulted not just one, but multiple women is abhorrent, and the thought of him preying on his victims for years after the assaults is chilling.

The Outside magazine article detailing Barrett’s trail of sexual assaults and the lack of accountability he faced is truly sickening.… Continue reading