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Fatal Fall from Angels Landing in Zion National Park

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Angels landing

Angels Landing in Zion National Park. NPS Photo.

A California woman died in a fall Sunday from the popular site in Zion National Park known as Angels Landing.

The victim, 55-year-old Nancy Maltez of Glendora, California, was reported to be hiking with family members early Sunday when she fell at about 8:30 a.m. The accident was reported by another hiker by cell phone.

She was believed to have stumbled and fallen from the north side of Angels Landing. Media reports indicate she fell a distance of about 1,000 feet, and search-and-rescue crews reached her body before noon.

The West Rim Trail from the Grotto to Scout Lookout, along with climbing routes on the north side of Angels Landing, are temporarily closed while an investigation by the park and the Washington County Sheriff's Department is completed.

There has been considerable discussion on theTraveler in recent months about the safety of the Angels Landing Trail. Prior to today's incident, the most recent fatal fall at that location was in 2007.

The park website includes the following information in a description of the Angels Landing Trail:

Caution: The route to Angels Landing involves travel along a steep, narrow ridge with support chains anchored intermittently along the route. Footing can be slippery even when the rock is dry Unevenly surfaced steps are cut into the rock with major cliff dropoffs adjacent. Keep off when it is wet, icy or thunderstorms are in the area. Plan to be off before dark. Younger children should skip this trail; older children must be closely supervised.

This accident will almost certainly revive the debate about the safety of the popular trail. According to the park website, "about 5 people" have died due to falls from Angels Landing in the 100 years since the park was established, but it is not the most dangerous trail in the park. Emerald Pools holds that unwelcome distinction with seven victims.

Comments

I just returned from Zion and I am actually glad I did not read this page before going. My daughter and I climbed to the top of the Landing - and it was a fantastic experience. But there were moments during the climb when thoughts of "why" entered my head. In the end, I am happy to have completed the climb, but I echo the thoughts of many here about the dangers of the climb, the importance of care and consideration for others on the trail, and just plain common sense. Adding signs that clearly indicate each accidental death would certainly help with those that have a cavalier attitude. While most folks I saw on the trail were couteous, respectful and even concerned for others (inlcuding being worried about this old and overweight fellows huffing and puffin on the way up) there were a few ...to put it bluntly...idiots, that were determined to pass everyone that was slower than them, and refused to wait while others were passing. It was while encoutering these few individuals that I felt most concerned about my own safety.

On the way down, we passed a number of families heading up various lower sections of the trail (Walter's Wiggles, Refigerator Canyon) who aksed about what was ahead. We were happy to tell them and to even suggest that the final portion of the trail was more than some of the younger children and less experienced hikers should try to do. Unfortunately, in each case the gung ho family members insisted that all would make it. Hopefully they made better decisions when faced with the reality at the end of the Overlook.

The trail is physically demanding for those that are not everyday hikers/climbers. Both of us were excited about taking on the Narrows the following day, but during breakfast realized that we were still feeling the effects from the Angels climb and decided to take the day to rest instead. - Perhaps one of the most dangerous aspect of climbing to the Landing is that it comes at the end of a 2 mile very strenuous climb just to reach the Lookout - making the untrained very tired before even taking on the climb.

In my view the trail should definitely not be closed, but it would be helpful to make the dangers even more visible. I also think it owuld be good to put an age limit on anyone attempting the climb - no young children should be allowed on the Landing trail for their own safety and the safety of others.


dmack:
The trail is physically demanding for those that are not everyday hikers/climbers. Both of us were excited about taking on the Narrows the following day, but during breakfast realized that we were still feeling the effects from the Angels climb and decided to take the day to rest instead. - Perhaps one of the most dangerous aspect of climbing to the Landing is that it comes at the end of a 2 mile very strenuous climb just to reach the Lookout - making the untrained very tired before even taking on the climb.

I really didn't find it all that demanding to get up to Scout Lookout. As long as it was done early in the day, the temps were reasonable. However - I was doing this a couple of weeks into a trip where I had already done some extensive hiking at high altitude. Still - I wasn't exactly what one would call in superb shape or anything. I'd say anyone who is in reasonable shape doing regular hilly hikes (even at sea level) of 4-5 miles a week is probably in decent enough shape for Angels Landing. I considered the psychological aspects of exposure to falls to be the most difficult part (and I didn't think it was that terrifying compared to Half Dome).

I actually did Angels Landing and a half mile of the Narrows the same day, although I didn't start on the Narrows until about 5 PM.


"more government" created the park


I just returned from hiking Angels Landing yesterday 8-24-10. What an amazing experience.

Before I get into that, I must say I have a respect for the woman who fell and extend condolences to the family. The shock and loss must have been heartrending....

HIke Details

My ability:
I have hiked many mountains over 10,000 feet, have backpacked and camped in the outdoors, have done the Zion Narrows, etc. I have some ability to scramble/hike/whatever but I do not do any technical climbing. I am very aware of heights, although I don't think it's a phobia.

My physical condition:
Good/athletic

My preparation for the hike:
I searched youtube for videos, the internet for pictures and reviews, etc. I was also aware of the fatalities. Through all of that, I became overly cautious but I don't think that was a bad thing.

Hiking partners:
3 other guys - 2 helicopter pilots and another person like myself.

What happened:
One other guy had made the hike before. We all went up together. The person who had hiked this trail was pretty cavalier about the hike from the start but I made it clear to the group that I would only go as far as I was comfortable. I also reminded the group about their wives and children at home...

We started up the trail and it became pretty clear immediately where we were going and how we were going to get there. You gain elevation very, very quickly. The whole time I was concious of how it was working out for me. I was actually quite nervous. When we got to the top of Scout's Landing, I was very nervous, especially seeing the knife edge of a ridge that we would be moving along toward the top. I considered staying at Scout's Landing. While on all four, I peered over the ledge at Scout's Landing (most likely very close to where one woman fell). At that spot, the drop is straight down. I think it's a common spot for picknicking, pictures, etc. There is no chain or warning at that spot. I was very aware of things as I began to adjust to the height. Scout's is a very safe-feeling spot because it is quite flat and there is a lot of space to relax. There is even a bathroom up there. But it IS the spot to make your choice. If you continue from Scout's, you begin the exposure part of the hike. I was able to relax a bit and because I felt more (not less) sure-footed as the hike progressed, I continued further. Those with shakes, weak knees, sweaty palms, etc. would be far better off to stay at Scout's.

There were only few on the mountain, fortunately. This was at like 5pm or so. I used the chains at times and not at other times. I warned my buddies to pay attention to every step. Off one side is the 1200ft drop and off the other side is a slope and then a drop. If you just concentrate on the chains and think you will require them the entire hike, there will be spots were you might be petrified. There are some gaps in the chain lengths. There are at least two spots on the route to the top that are extremely exposed. The path is several to 4 or 5 feet wide but you know what's on either side.

We passed some college-age heroes with their girlfriends. One girl was sweating, bent over, probably nearly hyperventilating, obviously petrified of the hike, and her boyfriend kept moving her along to the top. NOT RECOMMENDED. Nobody needs to be a hero on that hike!

It is possible to pass but someone has to take the outside angle away from the chains. It's best to go when the traffic is least because I can see how "passing accidents" could occur.

The chains can move while people grasp them. This could be unconfortable if you need to always have a death grip on the chains. I think it's best to always concentrate on having 3 points of balanced contact and 1 hand on the chain if necessary as you hike. Balance and stability are paramount. You really don't want to stumble and you sure as hell don't want to trip. Slick shoes are not recommened. You need something that can grip erosive sandstone. Leave extra gear, packs, or loose clothing, etc. back at Scouts. My water bottle kept interfering. A CamelBack water pack is best.

The actual peak/summit is a lot larger than I expected and you really don't "feel" the sheer drops from the summit because it has a dome type slope. It feels way more confortable on the summit and the view is unlike anything you've seen. It definitely is an Angel's Landing. There is no way to describe the feeling up there.

By the time we summited and hung around, took some pictures, ect., my awareness of how high we were off the ground entirely left me. I was 100 percent comfortable and sure by that point and would love to have camped on the summit. Being so high up and exposed, the view just became all engulfing and I think the fear part of my brain shut off so that I could enjoy the view and the hike back down. Fear developed into confidence and respect and balance. I learned many things about myself on that hike, only one of which was that I really don't think anymore that I have a fear of heights, but that I have a very healthy respect of heights, exposure, and so forth.

I would love to share the hike with other friends, family, etc., but I am not dumb enough to believe that I can control all of the circumstances in others the same way I did for myself. I know for a fact that I know people who would have loved to try that hike with us but I also know that their abilities and fears were not suited for that type of hike.

My gut instinct is that this hike is indeed very dangerous to those who are unprepared or to those who do not know their limits and who refuse to work within reasonable bounds. I would NOT take a child on this hike. I would NOT take a baby on this hike. I would *NOT* take anyone who has any fear of heights on this hike. I would NOT take someone on this hike if that person doesn't have any ability/experience to scramble. I would NOT take someone on this hike who isn't aware of the risks or doesn't care about them. I would NOT take someone on this hike if they can get dizzy, exhausted, vertigo, etc. I would NOT go with any person or group who does not take the hike seriously. I would NOT do this hike at it's most busy/popular times. I would NOT do this hike in bad weather conditions.

There are a bunch of other reasons I wouldn't go also but there are a few good reasons I would go, and I did.

One thing that would have helped to instill more of a respect for this hike would be if the park posted a sign at the beginning and at Scout's Landing that stated the dates of the known fatalities. The could also put up some more chains near the sheer cliffs, including the one where the lady fell at Scout's (you'll see the area right away if you look for it). I don't think you need a permit to hike it but it would be good I think to give people more warnings about it. Then again, it's a bit distracting if you are hiking up a technical spot and there is a sign that freaks you out..... I think the park is trying to balance it out pretty fairly.

I wish people had more respect for it but sometimes, in the case of the lady who fell from Scout's, it can happen to any of us.


If a stumble can kill you then it is not a safe place for average hikers to be hiking. If the Park is unwilling to put in the necessary safeguards, then visitors should be encouraged to rope up. A compromise would be a cable that hikers can attach a prusik to.


A stumble can kill you on a sidewalk, a subway platform, or a bathtub, does that mean we should "rope up" to take a shower? I hiked this for the first time with my 14yr old Godson last month, and it was one of the coolest hikes I have ever done. Don't ruin it like so many other things have been ruined by over protecting everything. I think it is fine the way it is.

Accidents happen and that doesn't stop us from driving. A sign for people who have died there might get some people's attention and instill a bit of respect, like they have at the Grand Canyon telling the tale of an athlete who died there on the trail from unpreparedness. Respect for the trail and for other hikers are key. That, and in the immortal words of one dirty Harry Callahan, "A man's got to know his limitations".

But this woman, an experienced hiker(and therefore I'm certain a respectful one), did not die from lack of respect or being unprepared, she simply stumbled, and it could happen to any of us, on any hike. My condolences to the family.


I have hiked Angel's Landing many times. If you obey the signs that tell you not to go beyond a certain point that you should be just fine. Many people fall because they decide to go beyond the signs. What happened to this woman was a freak accident and my heart goes out to her family. When you go on the hike, bring lots of water, comfortable shoes, and obey all the signs. You will be just fine.


The comments about the hike up Angels Landing were very helpful to me. I visited Zion and was intrigued by the hike. I am afraid of heights, thus, even making it through Walters Wiggles would be a huge success for me. Trying to hike beyond Scouts would be unwise, and more accurately, impossible for me, but that's OK. We drove up Pikes Peak and were told by Rangers that every year they encounter stopped cars with a driver frozen in fear inside...that would be me beyond Scouts. I used to be afraid of speaking in front of groups, I took the Dale Carnegie Course, and now welcome speaking before groups of any size, but this fear (of heights) would be different. I appreciate the accurate assessments of this arduous ascent. And, wow, Zion is one of God's greatest creations! Gratefully, John


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