Half  Dome – Yosemite Musings

On our hikes up to Half Dome we all pass over the Silver Apron Bridge. It sure looks appealing … sliding down the chute into the Emerald Pool.  But this would be insane with the 300 foot drop off Vernal Fall just around the corner. Darn. But does anyone ever slip in? Yes!  On August 7, a 12-year old girl fell into the chute and traveled 100 feet downstream before she stopped. When YOSAR arrived , she was conscious but had a fractured pelvis or femur. The Crane Flat Helibase dispatched a chopper with Ranger Dov Bock who led the short-haul lift back to the Ahwahnee Meadow.  (See the Dave Pope photo above.) The girl was then airlifted via a medical chopper to a local hospital. The SAR team has made 177 rescues this year. A tip of the hat to YOSAR!

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “Rescue me, oh take me in your arms. Rescue me, I want your tender charms'Cuz I'm lonely and I'm blue” – Aretha Franklin

*Carpe Diem Experience– Rick Deutsch–www.HikeHalfDome.com*