What began as a thrilling adventure quickly turned into a heartbreaking tragedy for 20-year-old Grace Rohloff, who lost her life in what her father described as a situation that “happened in the blink of an eye.”
Known for her fearless spirit, Grace Rohloff was hiking the iconic Half Dome in Yosemite National Park with her father, Jonathan Rohloff, when she lost her footing and slid 250 feet down the slippery mountain, passing right by him.
The father-daughter duo’s day of bonding turned into a nightmare, end in Grace’s tragic death.
Rohloff told Newsweek that his daughter grew up with a strong sense of adventure, always eager to explore new challenges and push her limits, a trait that defined her spirited approach to life.
“I would take her on hikes and put her in a backpack when she was a baby, and when she could walk, she’d want to go with me [on hikes],” Jonathan Rohloff said. “Anything I would do, she was always up for doing it with me. She was my mini-me.”
Her father said that over time, his daughter became the one providing much of the encouragement to others, especially him.
“She was really the one who pushed me; she was always full of energy and drove me to stay in better shape,” Jonathan Rohloff said. “She was always like, ‘Dad! Let’s go exercise, let’s go to the weight room, or let’s go on a hike.’ I absolutely loved every single one of those times with her.”
Grace Rohloff attended Valley Lutheran High School, where she was both a student teacher and a student-athlete. Standing six feet tall, she participated in and lettered in 13 sports, including basketball, volleyball, and track and field. She was named Player of the Match in 2020 for varsity volleyball and Player of the Game in 2019 for varsity basketball.
“She was dedicated to anything she put her mind to and followed through and finished,” Jonathan Rohloff said. “She was a hard worker and a person you could depend on. She made everyone feel important and loved with her whole heart.”
After graduating high school, Grace Rohloff was an undergraduate student in Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University. Inspired by her father, she aspired to pursue a career in math but never lost her fearless spark.
One of her bucket list items was to hike the 16-mile round trip to Half Dome. She entered the lottery system with great anticipation and was thrilled to secure two permits for July 13.
The father-daughter duo had previously hiked up to Angels Landing in Zion National Park, down to the Grand Canyon, and all over mountains in their home state of Arizona.
Rohloff told Newsweek that the weather on that Saturday started off beautifully, with partly cloudy skies and a temperature of 65 degrees.
They began their hike, making frequent stops in the shade to enjoy the stunning views of Yosemite. Once they reached the top of Half Dome, his daughter admired the view of Yosemite Valley before the storm rolled in.
“I heard a boom from a huge thundercloud behind me, one of those that’s unsettling,” Rohloff said. “It was so loud that I turned around and saw black clouds rolling in.”
He said everyone at the top of the mountain struggled to descend due to the pouring rain and granite surface. The area was crowded, with people packed closely together as they waited for their turn.
“Once the water hit, it was almost like a sheet of ice — it was slippery,” he said. “I’m a very experienced hiker and I’m strong, just like Grace, but it was nerve-wracking for me.”
Approximately three-quarters of the way down the cables, she told her father she was slipping on the rocks before she tragically fell to her death. Jonathan Rohloff said she slid a significant distance but did not hit hard, so he hoped she was still alive.
“Grace, I’m with you, I’m not going to leave you,” Jonathan Rohloff told Newsweek he shouted down the mountain. “Help is on the way, stick with me. If you can hear my voice, let me know.”
After several hours, rescuers informed the Yosemite park rangers that Grace Rohloff had died from a cranial fracture. After receiving the news, park ranger Shawna Daly stayed by his side, going above and beyond to help him through the tragedy.
“The Yosemite ranger team was amazing,” Jonathan Rohloff said. “They treated me with comfort and care, and I want it to be known that from Shawna to every single person I came in contact with, they treated Grace and me with dignity.”
In light of this tragic accident, Jonathan Rohloff is now advocating for a safer cable system. While he is a passionate naturist, he believes improvements can be made to enhance safety without compromising the integrity of the National Landmark.
“Grace would want to make it safer for the next person so that she could save a life,” Jonathan Rohloff said.
Newsweek reached out to Yosemite National Park for a statement; however, they have not responded.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
