San Ramon Woman Falls to Death Descending Yosemite's Half Dome

BAY CITY NEWS – A 26-year-old San Ramon woman died Sunday after she fell from the Half Dome cables at Yosemite National Park, according to park officials.

The park's emergency communications center received a 911 call about noon reporting that a hiker had fallen from the cables, which allow hikers to reach the nearly 5,000-foot summit without the use of rock-climbing equipment.

National Park rangers responded and found Haley LaFlamme, a Castro Valley High School graduate, dead.

It appears that she had climbed to the top of Half Dome and was on her way down when she fell and landed about 600 feet below, according to the park service.

Park rangers are investigating what caused her to fall but noted that there had been a severe thunderstorm that lasted several hours that morning.

Wet weather can make for hazardous trail conditions, and the granite slopes along the cable route can become slick, according to park service spokeswoman Kari Cobb.

She said warnings on the park's website; on the permit, which is now required for hikers to access Half Dome; at the base of the trail; and at the summit advising hikers not to attempt the climb if it is wet.

Trails at Yosemite, however, are not heavily regulated.

"Ultimately, it's up to the visitor, whatever trail they're on, to assess the safety of the situation," Cobb said.

She said LaFlamme had a permit to climb Half Dome and was with three people when she fell.

The last hiker to die on Half Dome was 40-year-old Manoj Kumar, also a San Ramon resident, who slipped and fell June 13, 2009, during a rain and hail storm.

Some hikers wear harnesses and strap themselves to the cables while climbing the slope, Cobb said.

"But most people go without," she said. "We have multiple signs and safety messages that say if there's a thunderstorm not to hike, but it's ultimately the decision of the visitors to assay the situation and take that precaution."

Yosemite has seen 14 deaths this year – about average for the park. But not all are from accidents. Some are suicides and some from natural causes.

– Jennifer Wadsworth contributed to this report