Valley rangers received a report of an injured climber on the northwest face of Half Dome at 4:30 a.m. on August 21st. The climber, Robert Kuntz, had taken a leader fall of about 80 feet after having gotten off route. During the fall, Kuntz zippered out at least four additional protection pieces that he’d used as climbing aids. Kuntz’s fall was finally arrested by his climbing rope, but not before he injured his back in a glancing blow off a protruding ledge. Rescuers were flown to the top of Half Dome in the park’s contract helicopter. Two rescuers were then lowered 600 feet down the overhanging face to Kuntz’s location. He was packaged in a vacuum body splint, raised to the top of Half Dome, then flown to a trauma center in Modesto.