California: (2) Yosemite Valley. On 11 November 1949 Darrel J. Warren, a soldier from Castle Field Air Base at Merced, California, was instantly killed by a fall from the cliff just east of the base of Yosemite Falls. Evidently a rock on which he had stepped gave way. He fell about 250 feet to a ledge near the base of the cliff. This fall was witnessed by a companion, Sergeant Earl Leatherman, and Park Ranger Herbert Ewing, who were near by at the base of the cliff. Warren and Leatherman had not registered for the climb and had no ropes or climbing equipment.

Source of information: National Park Service to A.A.C. Safety Committee,

Analysis: Another case of a solo climber meeting his death. As was true with the earlier tragedy to climbers in the same vicinity last year, this man had not registered for the climb and apparently had no experience whatsoever in mountaineering.