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.
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Comments
I just did this hike! There's a good 10 min where there's no margin for error - I imagine there'd be more than 5 deaths. Don't go by what the Zion website states - isn't it a government site?
We have done Angel's Landing numerous times. Both in the fall, winter, spring and summer. As far as increased safety is concerned, one possibility is to use a climbing harness with a runner secured to the chain sections by a locking caribiner. That would not prevent all injuries or falls but could reduce them. Just my .02
I am planning many trips to Zion and have just moved to Utah. For reference, check out Chimney Rock NC, where I took my wife and two daughters when we lived nearby. It is an amazing place and the views are spectacular. Some years ago, for similar reasons, the rock was surrounded with a metal fence/rail. My wife said she will not do Angels Landing with me just seeing the pictures. Maybe some thought should be given to making the route more secure. A little more safety can't hurt. Thanks .Great forum.
I agree. Nancy was an excellent human being and it's hard to understand how this could have happened.
This is a serious trail. I worked for the National Park Service for seven years and even I was surprised at how treacherous this trail is.
We hiked this trail last week. The weather was clear, but with thunderstorm possibilities. We had plenty of water, food, warm jackets and secure cameras - packed away. I was absolutely stunned when I saw people with babies on their backs. This was just foolish and stupid. Another was a grungy couple (in their 30-40's) BAREFOOT! If you want to get back to nature that is the best way to - slip and fall. You two are NOT hip in any way - just stupid. Think about the rangers and recovery people that have to risk their lives to recover yours. You can't cure stupid, I suppose.
If you have to think twice about climbing this trail, you probably shouldn't.
As someone who started this trail and turned back, I was surprised at how precarious just the beginning section is.
The part where you hold the chain seems quite dangerous, but if you grip the chain you should be fine. However, just past that is a near vertical incline that has steps bareley wide enough for a single shoe's width. You can grip the steps with hands as you climb, but the rocks are also quite dusty (not sure if it's sandstone) and so unless you have good hiking books your feet may prone to slipping.
My wife and I are fairly experienced hikers and like to do adventurous and somewhat risky activites. She even did this hike years ago when she was in college. In spite of this, my healthy sense of fear kicked in at the vertical part as we were not wearing good hiking boots and so we turned back.
As we turned back another group started to come and they were trying to climb around us at the chains part instead of just letting us pass and get out of their way. So I can vouch for people being irresponsible up there.
Even with the right gear and experience, it's dangerous. That being said, people love the hike and completing it is like a badge of honor. I regret that we did not have the right gear for it, and one day I want to return to do the whole hike.
Completed the hike on 11/3/18. It was truly a difficult but rewarding hike. However, the amount of people up there added much more difficulty\dangerousness. I constantly envisioned that this must be what is like on Everest at the Hillary Step - waiting your turn at a pinchpoint as some go down and others go up, some at the same time. Loved the trail, hated the crowd.
Did the trail, and I think not the trail is dangerous, but passing people. Some have big backpacks, that can push you if they turn around or do stupid things. The trail is staic, people are not.