Arizona Father Calls for Better Safety at Yosemite’s Half Dome After Daughter’s Fatal Fall

An Arizona father is calling for better safety measures at Yosemite National Park's Half Dome after his daughter slipped and fell to her death this week.

Grace Rohloff, 20, had secured permits to hike the challenging trail with her father, Jonathan Rohloff, and ascended the rock formation on July 13, according to NBC News. The duo considered themselves experienced hikers and had hiked the Grand Canyon several times per year.

However, a thunderstorm struck during their descent at Half Dome, and as it began to pour, Grace slipped on the climbing cables and fell down the mountain, Rohloff told the outlet.

"That was probably the fastest I've ever had a storm roll in anywhere that I've ever seen," Rohloff said. "That's when Grace slipped off and fell, because it is 10 feet of pure slick granite between boards. I thought we were both very prepared and experienced hikers and aware of our surroundings, but that one took us by surprise."

According to Yosemite's website, the Half Dome cables were first installed in 1919 and are supported by posts that hold the cables up. A board on the ground between each set of posts is meant to provide traction. The park acknowledges that "relatively few people" have fallen and died on the cables, but that injuries are not uncommon.

The park also warns that the route can be slippery.

"Most people have to take one or two steps on slippery granite to get from one board to the next, using their grip on the metal cable to keep them in place as they make the move. This is usually the hardest and least secure part," they said.

But the family says more safety measures should be put in place to prevent accidents at the popular and heavily-trafficked cable system, including side planks and harnesses.

"The overall trail at Yosemite is not more physically challenging than the Grand Canyon, but the cable system is unnecessarily dangerous," Rohloff said.

Grace, who planned to graduate with a teaching degree from Arizona State University this upcoming school year, was remembered by her father as fearless and determined.

"If we can make the cabling system at Yosemite a lot safer for people to see that beautiful piece of God's earth and not be put in danger then that would be something that she would have wanted," Rohloff told News 12.

Yosemite park officials have not issued a statement regarding the incident, according to the outlets.