FALL ON ROCK, CLIMBING ALONE AND UNROPED, WIND

California, Tahquitz Rock

On January 24, Nathan Thomas Parrish’s (25) body was found at the base of South Face of Tahquitz Rock between Open Book and Left Ski Track.

Jim Russell, U.S. Forest Service partnership coordinator and two companions found the body and reported it. “Between the two climbs, I discovered a young man’s body… his pack, hiking shoes, and sweaters were at the base of the Open Book, so it appears he was free-soloing the climb and fell from high up. I was out bouldering on Monday afternoon and it was VERY windy, so maybe a gust of wind knocked him off balance from one of the upper pitches,” according to Jim Russell. (Source: From a report on the www.supertopo.com Climber’s Forum)