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
10 years later, I just wanted to extend my condolences to you and your family. Sorry I'm so late on this, but my (now) husband and I hiked this trail a few years back, while traveling. We had been hiking almost daily across the united states from mountains to these beautiful (and unforgiving) rocks. I stopped when the trail got intense. My husband went on for a bit, then turned around. We were by no means inexperienced. If your sister was an experienced hiker, and this was a simple foot misplacement, I cannot imagine how many people whom I saw up there getting "lucky". It seems like there was a lot of ill equipped and inexperienced hikers doing these, more dangerous, hikes. I wish all people trusted the parks skill level ratings of these hikes, but they simply do not. I cannot imagine what your family went through, but I just wanted to say I'm so sorry. Thank you for sharing your experience and your sisters love for hiking.
More people have died at a Emerald Pools which surprised me. I'm sure the woman was an experienced hiker. My sister and I were just there in early November. We hiked to where the chains started. We attempted a little of it and decided against going as our grandkids would be really mad if we fell. I, personally didn't feel that I had enough energy or strength to finish. My condolences to the family.
So easy to imagine anyone at any level of ability to loose their footing on Angles Landing. It is truly steep, and not a grommed trail but a chain rail rock climbing exercise along the crest at the top.
I just finished my first hike here and witnessed so many young and middle aged hikers making very stupid decisions. Some slipped on the sandy rocks and exclaimed so on their way back down in a mixture of semi-managed fear and hightented emotions. Many, many people wore completely the wrong shoes for this exercise, let alone hiking shoes at all.
I agree with the person who mentioned a well posted sign should be placed either at the base of the trail at the bottom or maybe better placed just before the chains, both to commemorate those whom have passed but mainly to remind those who shouldnt be out there from going beyond the peak onto the chains at all.
I hiked the trail about 2013. I was very cautious respecting the dangers. Despite my cautions and my control, I almost went over the edge, not because of my efforts but because a middle-aged woman, who had obviously taken on more than she could handle. She was obviously afraid of the heights. I was on a section of the trail with a chain. It was a narrow edge with a sloped footing. People were taking turns one by one. There was 2-way traffic - Those going up and those going down. Each direction of travel needed to use that same space and chain. Some people negotiated who would pass under with the other carefully reaching around the one going under while hanging on to the chain. I was going up and she apparently just had to get down as fast as she could. The look on her face was something - fear! She barged ahead willfully forcing me to the outside. In her rush she literally pushed me out and broke my grip on the chain and pushed me to the edge with my feet slipping out from under me. Thank god I kept one hand griped firmly onto the chain. I don't know if she was fully aware of what she had done - the look of panic on her face. I had to pull myself up with my one arm. It all happened so fast. Others who saw what happened just shook their heads and asked if I was OK. With this experience I would have to say that no amount of caution and good intentions on my part could overcome this woman's panic. Thankfully I was in decent shape and had a strong grip. This makes me say the park should re-engineer these tight places to protect us from people who really don't know their own limits until they encounter the heights. I imagine she didn't know going into this that she would panic. I would never do that stretch of the trail again which is unfortunate because it is such a great experience. You can look out for your self and your loved ones but not when there is an out of control person on the trail.
First time on a hike this trail must be nice I was between 6 and 8 years old with my brother who is 3 years older than me. My dad was back at the campsite and was what then was The grotto campsite not picnic area. He had no clue. We would stay 2 weeks at a time. We were all over that place, lower middle and upper emerald pools when you get swim in the upper emerald pool. My dad wasn't in the best of health, so he always stayed at the campsite and we were usually gone all day. The bridge crossing the river was a rope bridge from The grotto picnic area. Or cable. At any rate we could jump on it and make it swing back and forth. There was a pool the lodge that we've swam in.if you want to see it watch the movie The Eiger sanction with Clint Eastwood.if I remember correctly they make it seem like an outdoor bar. But that's where they would hand us towels over the counter. The last time I did that hike was about 15 years ago in my mid-forties with my 15 year old son and his friend, guess I had more sense then because it scared the crap out of me. It's one of the most beautiful hikes in America with a most rewarding climax. Just be careful.
My heart ? goes out to the family of this unfortunate incident. It's an exciting and stimulating experience to hike "Angels Landing", it's much like climbing the cables of Half Dome in Yosemite. Myself being 60 yrs old and an avid hiker. I have found over the decades that the people overall that I've met in the National Parks are the best of America. People that hike Angels Landing know what they're getting into. Once you get to Scouts Lookout you can easily see what your in for if you decide to climb the sandstone "Fin" of Angels Landing. God made this magnificeint trail just for outdoor loving adventureres. To lose this trail would be robbing the adventure spirit from all of us. Peace!
They are talking about angels landing Not the park in general..
"most of the dire warnings at parks are overblown" when the warning/danger is real people don't take it seriously Yes, you've hit the nail on the head.