Yosemite Releases Photos Illustrating Where Rock Face Crumbled From Half Dome
YOSEMITE (CBS SF) - When word broke earlier this week that the rock face of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park had lost a big chunk from a popular climbing route, it wasn't immediately clear to the average visitor what the difference was. Now park officials are making the results of the facial peel quite clear.
On Wednesday afternoon, park officials released the following images detailing the roughly 100 by 200 foot scar.
A rockfall occurred on the face of Half Dome last Thursday night or Friday morning (see photos). The sliver of granite...
Posted by Yosemite National Park on Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Park geologist and climber Greg Stock said Tuesday that officials are now determining how the new route changes the climb.
Nobody was injured or witnessed the fall believed to have happened one night last week.
Stock says the relatively thin sheet of rock simply peeled off.
He says there are several other routes for climbers going up the 1,000-foot sheer face.
Stock says rock falls are common, but the size of this piece is impressive.
Via Facebook, Yosemite also posted a video showing what it looks like when rock crumbles to the Yosemite Valley floor.
Yosemite Nature Notes 10: Rock FallCurious about rockfalls in Yosemite? This Yosemite Nature Notes video will tell you all about them (and includes awesome footage of a rockfall in progress).
Posted by Yosemite National Park on Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Stock says this doesn't change the path for hikers taking a cable route to the top of Half Dome.
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