STRANDED, DROPPED ROPE

California, Yosemite Valley

On October 15, after completing a single pitch 5.7 route in the Church Bowl area called Uncle Fannie Hoffman, Matthew (19) lowered his partner to the ground from a ledge and accidentally dropped his only rope. Due to impending darkness, he remained at the belay ledge and sent his partner, Miller, for help.

Hoffman had seven years of mountaineering experience; however, this was only his second technical rock lead. (Source: Kelly McCloskey, Ranger, Yosemite National Park)

(Editor’s Note: There have been a number of incidents like this in the past few years, so this one is included to call attention to the need for being attentive once the apparently key part of the climbing is over.)