Paraplegic ends his climb of Half Dome
Mark Wellman's partner is injured in a mountainside fall.

By Pablo Lopez
The Fresno Bee - September, 8, 2001

Mark Wellman's ascent of Yosemite's Half Dome has ended because partner Mike Corbett fell 40 feet, smacking his head and possibly breaking an ankle.

After spending the night at 400 feet up the sheer granite face, the pair Friday rappelled to the base of Half Dome, ending the climb.

They later hooked up with friends who took Corbett to where he could get medical attention. His condition was not immediately available.

"They're made a decision to quit the climb together because they are partners through good and bad," said Carole Praxmarer, Wellman's fiancee and business partner.

In 1989, Wellman and Corbett climbed Yosemite National Park's El Capitan, making Wellman the first paraplegic to conquer the famous mountain wall. Three years later, they climbed Half Dome, Yosemite Park's other globally known challenge.

This month's sequel nearly ended in tragedy. As Corbett set a fifth pitch on a sandy, sloping ledge about 600 feet from the base of Half Dome, he slipped and fell about 5 p.m. Thursday. Corbett, who was wearing a helmet, fell 40 feet and slammed his head into the granite wall, Praxmarer said.
Wellman, who witnessed the fall, said it was traumatic. "Mike got a big jolt," he reported.

Before the pair began the climb, they said the feat was about two men scoffing at the aging process and about an enduring friendship.

Wellman, 41, lost the use of his legs in a 1982 Sierra climbing fall. He parlayed the fame from the first record-breaking climb into a successful career as a motivational speaker, author and filmmaker. He has a Web site (www.nolimitstahoe.com) and a job as a Chevrolet spokesman.

Corbett, 47, is a private man who has been moving steadily toward a spare lifestyle. A legendary climber, his biggest moments have come helping others. In 1999, he helped Gerry Bloch, 81, become the oldest man to climb El Capitan.

Tuesday, Wellman and Corbett departed for the eastern shoulder of Half Dome. Wellman rode a horse. According to Wellman's Web site, Dean Potter and Mike Corbett carried Wellman to the base of the climbing route. Corbett, John Dossi, and John Ausranc then unloaded the gear needed for the climb and set up camp.

On the second day, they started the climb in near-perfect weather. They made it up into the crescent arch, a body-sized chimney crack that is three pitches up. Each pitch is 100 to 150 feet apart.

Wellman said it was difficult to crawl into the crack. After a tough day, they were in bed around 8:30 p.m.

The pair had climbed most of Thursday. Then fate struck.