California, Yosemite National Park. On 13 November John Michael Wrightman (20) left Yosemite Lodge on a drizzly afternoon in hopes of shortcutting up to the base of the upper Yosemite Falls. He walked along the base of Sunnyside Bench below the falls until he came to a point where an ascent looked possible and began to climb up mossy dirt- covered ledges and slabs. He had no mountaineering experience, was only vaguely familiar with the area, and had started his ascent in poor weather. He was found by a search party three days later at the base of the previously described slabs and ledges. It looked as though he had fallen about 200 feet sliding over slabs and falling over ledges on the way down. The autopsy showed that he had died from injuries about the head. It is presumed that he slipped on a loose rock or on the wet slabs during his ascent.

Source: Pete Thompson. Yosemite National Park.

Analysis: Mr. Wrightman should not have left the park trails especially because of the poor weather. If he had thought about safety or would have had some knowledge of mountaineering and its dangers this accident could have been avoided.