Climber Rescued After Being Injured In Avalanche

A 38-year-old Korean climber was swept downhill in an avalanche while climbing on Half Dome on Monday afternoon. The climber, an experienced mountaineer, was climbing with six other people when the avalanche hit. Language barriers, unsettled weather, and challenging terrain added to the complexity of the rescue. Although rescuers were able to contact him after the accident, continued avalanche activity made it unsafe for rescuers to enter the area. A California Highway Patrol helicopter lowered park medics to the climber’s location the next day; he was then lifted out and flown to a waiting helicopter. After a medical assessment in the park, he was flown to a Central Valley hospital for treatment.