Yosemite National Park (CA)
Rangers Rescue Injured Climber Who Fell Sixty Feet
A visitor called park dispatch last Wednesday morning and reported that he'd seen a climber fall while ascending El Capitan. Rangers found that Japanese climber Yasunovu Nakanishi, 31, who was lead climber on an ascent of the Zodiac route, had fallen about 60 feet when a piece of protective gear fell out. When Nakanishi hit the ground, he sustained injuries to his back and pelvis. Nakanishi was short-hauled via the park's helicopter along with ranger Jeff Webb to El Capitan Meadow. He was then flown to Modesto Memorial Medical Center, where he was trated and released later that day.