2014 photo of Taft Point (by Gail Gilbert)
YOSEMITE — The recovery operation is complete for the bodies of two individuals who apparently fell from a high point in Yosemite National Park.
Park authorities announced yesterday morning, Oct. 25, that a male and a female visitor died in an apparent fall from Taft Point. Park rangers completed recovery of the bodies on Thursday afternoon. The identities of the deceased have not yet been determined.
The two people fell approximately 800-feet below Taft Point in an area with very steep terrain, according to officials in the park. This recovery operation involved park rangers using technical climbing and rappelling techniques, in addition to helicopter support from the California Highway Patrol for a short-haul operation.
Taft Point is a viewpoint in the park, west of Glacier Point, offering wide views of Yosemite Valley, Yosemite Falls, and El Capitan. Taft Point attractions include giant fissures in the granite rock — breaks and cracks in the mountain that drop directly down to the valley floor at some points.
This incident is under investigation and no further details are expected to be available for at least several days. No photos or videos are available.
Yosemite National Park extends its gratitude to the California Highway Patrol for their critical assistance in this recovery operation.
Yosemite National Park Ranger and spokesperson Jamie Richards told ABC 30 on Thursday that visitors reported seeing the bodies on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 24, and rangers quickly responded to the area.
“As the investigation progresses we will have a better idea of possibly what happened, it’s too early to speculate — we do not know any of the circumstances of what may have happened there,” Richards said. The Taft Trail has markings and a barrier.
“We want all visitors who come to Yosemite National Park to come here and have an adventure, experience the wonder and magic of Yosemite National Park, and to go home in the same condition they arrived here. Any time that doesn’t happen it’s a tragedy.”
We will update this story when more information is released.
