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Woman Dies in Fall From Angel's Landing

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    Climb to the top of Angel's Landing in Zion National Park and you'll have an incredible view of Zion Canyon and the surrounding cliffs. You'll also risk a spell of vertigo if you get too near the edge and glance into the void.
    In fact, reaching the top of the landing can be unnerving at times as you have to climb up some steep, and narrow, stretches of rock. The Park Service is well aware of the exposure on these sections and has anchored heavy chains into the most precarious spots so you have something to hang onto.
    Over the years five people have died in falls from Angel's Landing....the most recent death occurred yesterday morning with a 29-year-old Las Vegas woman fell 1,200 feet to her death. No word just yet on how Bernadette Vander Meer came to fall off the cliff.

Comments

Lulu, I had to LOL at your story when I read "Quitters Corner". I had not heard that term -- sooooo appropriate!! A year ago my husband and I tried to finish the climb, and know very well the "wrestle" you had with not finishing the hike, and know even better the delimna associated with "Quitters Corner." After a year of accepting defeat at not finishing the climb and stopping at the "Corner," my husband and I just went last Saturday and finished the hike!!! IT WAS BEAUTIFUL and sooooo worth it. After our first attempt last year, and the shock at the sight of the cliffs, our second time didn't seem as scary. I think taking your time and being very cautious, you would be able to do it too. Part of me thinks that those first chains before the Corner, are probably, mentally, the worst. Good luck to all who try and Godspeed!!! ;-)

I started crying while on the chains and had to go back...slowly. Ithink I wore most of my fingernails off between the chains and the rock. I just had images of slipping and not having a chance to say goodby to my loved ones. I'll go back again but not sure if i'll get past the chains. It was a wonderful hike nonetheless.

I am the aunt of the husband who tragically lost his beautiful wife on Aug. 22nd, 2006 as she fell 1200 feet into the arms of her Savior. Her life, obviously, touched many that justify the "climb" up Angel's Landing. Please pray for her husband and family and friends.

reading the posts and having seen pics of the hike- should i be terrified- i have lots of experience ridge scrambling in uk- devils ridge, crib goch, anoch eagach etc- i get married in sept and we set ourselves the challenge of angels landing but now i'm not sure- it looks awesome-maybe too awesome?

Kingsley, I've been up Angel's Landing a couple times, once when my youngest son was about 8 or 9, and each time has been incredible. Yes, you have to be careful and clear-headed, but if you are somewhat comfortable with exposures (personally, I hate heights), the trek is not insurmountable. There are places where you can easily call a halt and turn around if things become uncomfortable, and I don't think anyone would think lesser of you.

I am rather afraid of heights. Would it be possible to run a rope from a climbing harness around the chain and back to the harness with a carabiner? Would that somehow disrupt things for other people?

I got the news today my brother and family were hiking this place and he and my neice walked ahead of the crowd they were with because they were going to slow..and all i know is he slipped on a rock or something and moumentim grabbed him as he started to fall and plummented or fell off..today is june the 8th and from the news i heard my brother who is a athletic man fell and they couldnt find his body for over 2 hours.. im so confused and sad.. we live in st louis mo and he was there for a wedding tomoorow sat and the family all were together.. and i hope he wasnt scared and wondered if he lost consciencness before he hit the ground my brother was 53 and a doctor. and his daughter from what i hear witnessed it all.

My good friend became the most recent casualty on Angels Landing. I am still in shock and mostly numb. After learning more about the trail, I was amazed at the number of accidents that have happened there. I am an avid outdoorsman although not a hiker. Are these statistics "common" among climbing trails in the western U.S.? What could be done to reduce these stats? He was a great man, will be missed by many, and always remembered.

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