Massive hunk of rock sheers off iconic El Capitan, one day after a rock fall in the same area killed a British tourist and seriously injured his wife; William La Jeunesse reports from Los Angeles.
El Capitan, Spanish for The Captain or The Chief, is a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, located on the northwest side of Yosemite Valley. The granite monolith extends about 3,000 feet (900 m) from base to summit along its tallest face.
On Wednesday September 27, 2017 a 12-13 story slab of granite (130 ft x 65 ft) fell from El Capitan. A British man was killed and his wife was injured. Andrew Foster of Wales was killed when he didn’t have a chance to escape. On Thursday, another slab of granite collapsed near the same location. One man was injured on the second day of rock falls.
El Capitan is one of the world’s favorite challenges for rock climbers and BASE jumpers. Park officials say that Yosemite has about 80 rock slides per year — many unreported. The exfoliation is described as normal.
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A huge slab of granite fell at Yosemite National Park for second straight day, Thursday. Andria Borba reports. (9-28-17
Climbers talk about massive fatal rockslide that occurred Wednesday September 27, 2017 at Yosemite’s El Capitan.
Yosemite Park Ranger Scott Gettiman talks about Thursday rock fall that injured one person (9-28-2017).