On Saturday, April 13th, rangers received reports of cries for help coming from the general vicinity of the Five Open Books climbing area in Yosemite Valley. Rangers and SAR team members climbed to the party and found that one of them had an open fracture of his left forearm from being hit by a falling rock. After stabilizing his broken arm, the rescuers assisted him in rappelling to the bottom to a waiting litter team. The injured climber was then evacuated down a 600-foot scree slope to the road. While he was being prepared for evacuation, two other climbers hailed the rescuers. They also reported an injury, but were able to self-evacuate to the base of the route. Other rangers met these climbers at the bottom and assisted them to a waiting ambulance. Interviews with the climbers revealed that both arties were hit by the same rockfall. The lead climber of the upper team dislodged a rock the size of his head. This block then struck a glancing blow to the helmet and shoulder of his belayer. The rock then hit the leader of the second party on the pitch below. He received a glancing blow to his helmet, and a solid strike on his forearm, breaking it. The rock went on to strike his belayer in the arm and hip, but luckily just glancing blows. Two lives were saved by climbing helmets. [Steve Yu, IC, YOSE, 4/16]
