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Yosemite Rockfalls: Climbers Snap Dramatic Photos Of Crumbling Cliffs
A British hiker was killed and two other people were hurt by massive rockfalls at Yosemite National Park's landmark El Capitan.
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CA — Climbers at Yosemite National Park's landmark El Capitan were stunned after two thundering rockfalls in as many days left massive clouds of dust, coating the valley below.
Climbers and local residents snapped photos of the moments immediately after the rockfalls, which killed a British hiker and left two others hurt. Images from the National Park Service showed the scar left behind on the face of El Capitan.
The falls came during the peak of the climbing season on the massive rock formation. At least 30 climbers were on the formation when the formation first gave way Wednesday. (For more information on the Yosemite rockfalls and other Across California stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)
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RAW: Huge Rock Falls Off At Yosemite Twice In Two Days
Park officials say rocks at the world-renowned park's climbing routes break loose and crash down about 80 times a year, but injuries are rare.
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WATCH: Video shows climbers above recent rockfall in Yosemite. (Video by Peter Zabrok) pic.twitter.com/fD6zVrCNb2
— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 28, 2017
PHOTO: Shocking view of new rockfall off of El Capitan in Yosemite. (Photo by Ryan Sheridan) pic.twitter.com/H7DOuGi32y
— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 28, 2017
Series of 7 rockfalls occurred on southeast face of El Capitan on Sept. 27, resulting in one fatality & one injury: https://t.co/G0JRYWE3z0. pic.twitter.com/n1dXLVftWN
— Yosemite National Pk (@YosemiteNPS) September 28, 2017
Larger rockfall on El Capitan today, with one injury. Debris reached a road, so detour in place; drive with caution in Yosemite Valley. pic.twitter.com/wciTNR5SkT
— Yosemite National Pk (@YosemiteNPS) September 29, 2017
Photo credit: Peter Zabrok via AP; John P. DeGrazio/YExplore Yosemite Adventures via AP; Eric Paul Zamora/The Fresno Bee via AP; The National Park Service via AP; Tom Evans/National Park Service via AP
