Plunging Hiker Is 15th Yosemite Death

Yet another hiker has fallen from a Yosemite peak, making him the 15th death in the national park this year. The unidentified climber plunged from Half Dome peak in the park, as did a woman last month. The body of the man, wearing hiking gear, was recovered yesterday. Witnesses reported hearing a scream and seeing someone fall from the sheer face of the 9,000-foot peak the previous day. One official speculated the man ascended the mountain using cables on the sloping back side then fell from the sheer face "either accidentally or by suicide," reports the Sacramento Bee. The death toll is double the usual number by this time of year. Several park visitors have drowned in raging waters created by record snows. (More California stories.)