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
interesting reading, was just there on 5/25/12 and while we didn't hike Angels Landing, we did hike up to Hidden Canyon and beyond into canyon. There are chains on that hike too and the canyon is beautiful.
My daughter is in college now, but when she just turned seven I took her on this hike. We caught the first morning tram from the lodge and what a terrific hike it was. We were almost alone on the trail because of the time of the morning. When we got to the top and sat to eat what turned out to be breakfast I wondered about people maybe falling off and the wisdom of taking my 7 year old to the top. About that time a pediatrician from New Jersey showed up with his eight year old daughter. We both took pictures of the two girls together at the top. Those pictures and the video of my daughter's entire assent are treasured. I must say that this is not a hike for all children and certainly not for more than 1 child per attentive adult.
I have recently gotten into hiking. Heights have never scared me, though falling concerns me. Does that make sense? I enjoy pushing myself a little pass my comfort zone, though I am old enough not to have to impress any either. My question is how do you know how you will respond? If this hike is the most extreme you've done, then how do you know how your body will respond but more importantly how your mind will respond. Just asking....
The person who says that 100% of those who stumble die, you are wrong. I am 16, and I climbed Angel's landing this summber. I stumbled not once, but twice, and because i had at least one hand in contact with a solid surface, be it the chain or the rock itself, i simply stumbled and got back up.
I'm amazed there aren't deaths here every month. the last part of this hike is just too dangerous, and a cable should be rigged for the ENTIRE last 0.5 miles. I've done canyoneering and rock climbing and I wouldn't even THINK about doing this without roping in. but thousands of people, with no experience (mostly) do it every year. That doesn't prove that it's safe, it just proves that a) people are stupid and b) people are stupid. It's just not worth the risk for the endorphins or for bragging rights. As other people have noted, the deaths here are GROSSLY under-reported. A group from my college is doing it this weekend, 60 folks, ages from 16 to 60, and they're ALL going to feel ENORMOUS peer pressure to do this (group led by a crazy professor). NONE are going to rope in, and I really fear that a dear friend of mine will fall to her death because she's too macho to resist the peer pressure.
Observation Point is a great hike in and of itself. It is actually higher than Angels Landing. It has heights, but they are on one side at a time. The pathway is about four feet wide which is much more manageable than Angels Landing.
I just returned from a trip to Zion's. When I was 19 (i'm 40 now) I attempted Angel's Landing. Right as we started the trail, a freak spring snow storm came out of no where. By the time we made it to the narrow spine before the final 1/4 mile ascent, the snow was over waist deep. I kept pulling the chain out of the snow drift. When the snow finally surpassed my naval, I threw in the towel. I vowed to come back some day and finish.
This past week, I brought my 3 oldest children with me (14, 12, and 9) I tethered the youngest to me with static climbing rope and harnesses. We took time preparing for the hike by talking about having hands on the chains, no sudden moves, watch out for sand, etc. Even with all the preparation, I sweat bullets the whole way watching my kids. Am I glad they did the hike? Yes. Is it way too dangerous for many of those who attempt it with flip flops and little water? Yup. I will say we saw a good number of people who started the hike turn around and go back early. I think it was wise of them.
I am very grateful that we still have opportunities for adventure of this magnitude in our National Parks. Angel's landing is a gem, albeit a terrifying one. We stayed with an 85 yr old lady who told us that as a teen, her church youth group leaders took a group of the young women up there. She said that in her days, there were no chains! I asked her how she got to the landing. She responded, " I crawled half the way". It's experiences that bring us way outside of our comfort zone that shape us and our futures. There's an intrinsic value that cannot be measured. Is it worth it for you? That's your decision.
Angel's Landing is one of the most magnificent hikes in our national parks, when you factor in the spectacular view, dizzying heights, trail variety, and danger factor. I've hiked it many times and hope they keep it open.