High Sierra Topix

Very sad, tragic loss of a wonderful young women.

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/S ... 237809.php

Another example of why steep loose chutes should not be taken lightly. I expected to hear of a mishap on the technical parts of the peak but was not surprised to hear she died by tumbling down a chute after loosing her footing.

It's been a very sad week or so in the High Sierra with the drowning of a San Jose State student in Mineral King, this fatal fall on Bear Creek Spire and the another fatal fall on Deerhorn (of a Pomona College professor). From the Inyo SAR site photo(s) the Bear Creek Spire fall appears to have been on the north or northeast face and whereas she fell in what was termed a gully or chute anything on that face is super high angle, so it isn't probably isn't the type of situation we commonly encounter in steep class 2 or 3 chutes. The high-angle nature is reflected in the distance of her fall in the 1000' range, which reflects she was probably doing some exposed 4th or likely 5th class climbing unroped when she lost her footing.