Tragic Fall at Yosemite: Student Dies After Slippery Shoes Warning

Moments before tragically falling 200 feet to her death at Yosemite National Park, Grace Rohloff told her father, Jonathan Rohloff, that her new hiking shoes felt "slippery." Grace, a 20-year-old student from Arizona State University, had purchased the shoes to ensure she was properly equipped for the challenging 16-mile hike to the park's famous Half Dome rock formation.

On July 13, as they were making their way down the 4,800-foot rock formation, they encountered persistent rain, making the descent more treacherous. About three-quarters of the way down, Grace expressed concern about her shoes to her father, saying, "Dad, my shoes are so slippery." Jonathan, hiking below her, tried to reassure his daughter, urging her to take it "one step at a time."

Unfortunately, Grace lost her footing and slid down the mountain past her father. Jonathan recounted the heart-wrenching moment, saying, "She just slid off to the side, right by me, down the mountain. It happened so fast. I tried to reach my hand up, but she was already gone."

A rescue helicopter arrived three hours later, but sadly, Grace did not survive the fall. The coroner later informed Jonathan that Grace likely passed away during the fall, a small comfort in the midst of the tragedy.

Since 2006, six people, including Grace, have died due to slippery conditions on Half Dome after rainstorms. Jonathan Rohloff is now advocating for improved safety measures at the site, such as installing a second set of cables and wooden planks to provide better footing. Although he has vowed never to hike this dangerous route again, he remains hopeful that these changes will help prevent future accidents.