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Just hours after Brad Parker proposed to his girlfriend, the experienced climber plunged to his death in Yosemite National Park.
In 2014, shortly after he asked Jainee Dial to marry him, Brad set off on a solo climb which ultimately led to his death at just 36 years old.
On the day his father, Bill Parker, recently revealed his son had told Dial was “the happiest day of my life”, the couple set out on a climb towards the summit of Cathedral Peak in the Yosemite High Country.
Then, after Parker popped the question, the newly-engaged couple went their separate ways, and the groom-to-be made his way to the Tuolumne Meadows area of Yosemite National Park.
To get there, he scaled the mile-long Matthes Crest, a slim, vertical rock with two summits divided by a deep crevice.
According to his father, Parker was a highly experienced climber who spent two years travelling the world, visiting countries including Thailand and New Zealand to pursue his passion.
He had also recently scaled Yosemite's Half Dome "in near-record time".
However, despite his experience, other climbers saw him plummet around 300 feet at around 5.45PM. According to Yosemite Park Ranger Kari Cobb, Parker had been climbing alone without ropes, a form of the sport called "free-soloing”. Although the route was well-established, it was not necessarily considered challenging to a skilled climber.
A spokesperson from Mountain Project told the Express: "Generally, people do the traverse from South to North. This is because the crest slopes upwards in that direction, and therefore, you will end up at a higher elevation. Doing it North to South would involve more downclimbing."
The company that serves as a guidebook to climbers claimed that despite the dangerous sound of it, Parker’s free-soloing approach was regarded as a sensible and practical way to tackle the summit.
After Parker was witnessed falling from the rock, park rangers searched for him to recover his body.
Sadly, as it became too late to summon a helicopter once they reached him, they stayed with him through the night. The next day, his body was retrieved by a helicopter.
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A heartbroken dad has revealed what his daughter said to him before she slipped and fell to her death.
Grace Rohloff, 20, lost her life on July 13 while she and her father, Jonathan Rohloff, were hiking at Yosemite National Park, as reported by SFGate.
The Arizona-based father-daughter duo were experienced hikers who had climbed up different mountains and obtained a permit to hike the park’s popular Half Dome cables.
Unfortunately, the 16-mile hike in a heavy rainstorm resulted in a tragic loss for the father who has now opened up about his heartbreak.
Prior to the hike, a ranger had warned the duo of the chance of storms later in the day. But when Grace and Jonathan arrived they were greeted with clear skies so they set off and made it to the top.
However, a clap of thunder interrupted their hike. "A black cloud was rolling in like gangbusters,” the dad told the outlet. “I was like, ‘We have got to get down now because we don’t want to be up here with any rain. It rolled in literally out of nowhere.’”
The dad recalled that the people in front of them were moving slowly, so he and his daughter were stuck in the cabled area as the storm descended.
Grace then quickly learned that her new pair of hiking boots weren’t offering the traction they had promised, telling her dad that her shoes "felt 'slippery'".
Trying to keep them both calm, he instructed her: “OK, let’s do one step at a time," but it was at this point that she suddenly slipped.
“She just slid off to the side, right by me, down the mountain,” he said. “It happened so fast. I tried to reach my hand up, but she was already gone.”
The shocked father then moved down the cables as quickly as possible, looking down in the hopes that his child had survived the terrifying drop. “I just wanted to get my daughter,” he told the outlet.
He then called 911 and shouted: “Grace, I’m here. I’m not going to leave you. If you can hear my voice, give me a sign. I love you,” but received no response.
Jonathan then started to pray for a miracle and was joined by others who asked to pray with him. A park ranger stayed by his side in the horrific weather while waiting for a helicopter to rescue Grace.
He later found out that his beloved daughter had suffered a severe head fracture and probably died during the fall, describing the report as "comforting" to know his daughter "didn't have to suffer".
Jonathan has praised his daughter as "fearless," adding: "She was an adventurer. We did hikes all throughout Arizona. Grace and I put on thousands of miles hiking,” as cited by NBC Bay Area.
He hopes her death will encourage park officials to make the cables safer. “If we can make the cabling system at Yosemite a lot safer for people to see that beautiful piece of God’s earth and not be put in danger then that would be something that she would have wanted,” he shared.
A celebration of life for Grace will be held on July 27, according to a Facebook post.
A world-renowned American rock climber has died at the age of 31 after falling from a rock face in El Portero Chico, northern Mexico, the BBC reports.
Brad Gobright, an acclaimed climber, had once held the speed record on the Nose of El Capitan rock face in Yosemite National Park.
He tragically fell approximately 1,000ft (300m) to his death.
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Gobright was abseiling down the cliff with his companion Aidan Jacobson, 26, when the pair suddenly lost their grip.
"I was a bit above him. I was on the left. He was on the right. Then all of a sudden, I felt a pop, and we started dropping," Jacobson told the Outside magazine website.
Due to a bush cushioning his fall, the 26-year-old survived with just an ankle injury.
"It was basically a blur," Jacobson recalled. "He screamed. I screamed. I went through some vegetation, and then all I remember is seeing his blue Gramicci shirt bounce over the edge."
The US State Department confirmed the free solo climber had died and offered its "sincerest condolences" to his family, the Evening Standard reports.
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"We are closely monitoring local authorities' investigation and are providing all appropriate consular assistance. Out of respect to the family during this difficult time, we have no further comment," the US State Department said in a statement.
Gobright and Jacobson were using a technique known as simul-abseiling, which, according to the Outside, is "a time-saving high-risk endeavour in which the leader and follower both advance at the same time."
The site reports the men had not tied potentially life-saving knots in the ends of their ropes.
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Fellow climber Alex Honnold has since taken to Instagram to leave a touching tribute for the sportsman.
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"Im so sorry to hear that [Brad] just died in a climbing accident," he begins. "He was such a warm, kind soul - one of a handful of partners that I always loved spending a day with. I suppose there’s something to be said about being safe out there and the inherent risks in climbing but I don’t really care about that right now."
Alex continues: "I’m just sad for Brad and his family. And for all of us who were so positively affected by his life. So crushing. Brad was a real gem of a man. For all his strengths and weaknesses (like his insanely strong fingers, or living out of a Honda Civic...) at the core he was just a good guy. I guess there’s nothing really to say. I’m sad. The climbing world lost a true light. Rest in peace..."
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Another climber, Alice Hafer, wrote: "He had a magic about him on the rock, unlike anyone I've ever met. He was so supportive and encouraging, always pushing me harder and believing in me. I can't believe that not even a few weeks ago he was sitting next to me as we drove home from Arizona. I'll cherish those moments always. He will be so missed, forever. Love you always Brad."
Tragedy struck earlier this week on the rugged terrain of Bear Mountain, Arizona, as California mom Zaynab Joseph sadly died during a family hike.
The 40-year-old mother plunged 140 feet to her death while trekking with her husband and baby on Monday, as concerned witnesses followed her harrowing cries for help.
Rescue efforts were swift but sadly, Joseph succumbed to her injuries shortly after being discovered by fellow hikers, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.
One of the hikers immediately went down the embankment where Joseph was still breathing at the time.
While her husband and child were airlifted to safety, the heartbreaking loss of Joseph has left a community reeling with grief.
The Joseph family, visiting from California, had been enjoying a getaway in Sedona, lodging at an Airbnb. As authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident, loved ones are left grappling with the incomprehensible loss.
In a poignant tribute, a woman identifying herself as the victim's sister shared heartfelt words, describing Joseph as having "a heart of gold."
“No words can describe the pain our families are going through, especially her husband and three young children,” Farwa Zaidi wrote in a Facebook post.
Leila Hassan shared on Facebook that Joseph was “a friend and a sister of my Islamic community.”
“The community is in shock,” she wrote. “Please keep her family in your prayers to get through this tough time.”
With the investigation ongoing, questions linger about the exact circumstances leading to Joseph's fatal fall on what's described as a challenging hike through the untamed wilderness of Bear Mountain.
Bear Mountain has been described by the US Forest Service as a “strenuous hike” because “it’s mostly unshaded, steep and difficult in places.”
The trail in Sedona, listed as "hard" on the AllTrails hiking app, presents a challenge with its approximately 2,000 feet of elevation gain over just over two miles to reach the peak.
Described as rugged by the site, the trail features sections where hikers traverse pure rock with an almost vertical drop, prompting the recommendation to wear shoes with excellent traction.
"It's a rugged trail," the AllTrails site says. "Some sections are on pure rock at an almost vertical drop. Wear shoes with good traction!"
Recent hikers share experiences of rock scrambling and encountering "quite steep" conditions along the trail.
A father and his teenage stepson from Florida were found dead in separate areas of a Texas national park on Friday.
The fatalities occurred during a family hike in the harsh heat, leading to the 14-year-old boy collapsing, according to officials.
The family, which included the stepfather and the 21-year-old brother of the teenager, was trekking along the Marufo Vega Trail at Big Bend National Park under blistering temperatures. On the day in question, temperatures in the area reached a staggering high of 119 degrees, reports NBC DFW.
The teenager fell ill and lost consciousness around 6:00PM, which prompted the father to rush back to their vehicle to seek assistance while the elder brother attempted to carry his unconscious sibling back to the trailhead.
Around 7:30PM, authorities located the unconscious boy and his brother. Unfortunately, the teenager was declared dead at the scene, as stated by the National Park Service.
A mere half an hour later, the father's car was spotted by Park Rangers and US Border Patrol Agents. The vehicle had crashed over the embankment at the Boquillas Overlook. The 31-year-old father was also pronounced dead at the scene.
The Marufo Vega Trail, known for its rugged desert and rocky cliffs, is positioned within the hottest part of Big Bend National Park. The challenging trail, lacking in shade or water, poses considerable risk when traversed in the summer heat, warned the agency in a statement.
The National Park Service said: "A team of Park Rangers and U.S. Border Patrol Agents reached the scene at approximately 7:30PM and located the young victim deceased along the trail. A search was then initiated for the father. At approximately 8:00PM, his vehicle was located crashed over the embankment at the Boquillas Overlook. The 31-year-old male was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash."
The statement continued: "The Marufo Vega Trail winds through extremely rugged desert and rocky cliffs within the hottest part of Big Bend National Park. No shade or water makes this strenuous trail dangerous to attempt in the heat of summer.
"Big Bend is currently experiencing extreme heat with daily highs reaching 110-119 F at low elevations and along the Rio Grande."
The names of the victims have not been released by park officials, and the incident is currently under investigation.
