|
|
|
|
|
| |
|||
By Pablo Lopez
The Fresno Bee - July 9, 1998
The bodies of two Southern California teenagers, who fell about 100 feet to
their deaths, were recovered Wednesday morning from the rugged rock wall below
Glacier Point overlook at Yosemite National Park.
Rangers identified the victims as Miguel Lopez, 17, and Manny Castillo, 18, both of Temple City.
The two began to hike Tuesday afternoon on an old, unused trail-which would have taken them down 3,200 feet-from Glacier Point overlook to Yosemite Valley, park spokesman and ranger Kendell Thompson said.
But the trek turned tragic when their bodies were found on a cliff near Staircase Falls, he said.
Their faint cries for help above Curry Village prompted rangers to launch a search. But it was too late-they had fallen and died by the time rescuers could reach them about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thompson said.
He said rangers are searching for clues to the accident's cause.
Because it was night, the recovery effort was delayed to Wednesday morning. Rangers had to rappel from a helicopter to the area where the bodies landed, which was nearly halfway between the overlook and Yosemite Valley, Thompson said.
News of the hikers' death spread through Yosemite Valley where the victims had been camping with family members and friends at Housekeeping Camp.
Many campers saw three members of the recovery team rappel to the site and later place the bodies in baskets, which the helicopter lifted and returned to the Yosemite Valley floor.
Camper Mark Barnhill, 40, of Woodland Hills, who watched the recovery effort, said the accident made many campers reflective. "It's really sad because many of us have children, and it makes you realize how precious life is, he said. "This place is beautiful and safe and signs are posted, but there's a potential for danger everywhere. You really have to watch your children so they don't get in over their heads."
Thompson said the hikers were on the Ledge Trail, which is steep, rugged and had not been used by the general public since 1954. Only skilled hikers tackle the remnant trail. It was not immediately known if the victims were experienced hikers, he said.
This brings the number of confirmed accidental deaths in Yosemite this year to three, Thompson said. The first was Monday, when a resident of Great Britain died n a traffic accident on Tioga Road.
|
|
|
|