‘Geologist said they’d never seen anything like this’
With its steep cliffs and stunning views, Yosemite National Park is a climber’s paradise, but it’s not without its dangers, and park officials are warning visitors about a recent increase in a natural but dangerous phenomenon.
Trip reported an unprecedented increase in rockfall incidents in Yosemite National Park.
according to USGSRockfalls are defined as “sudden movements of masses of geological material, such as boulders and boulders, broken off from steep slopes or cliffs.”
Rockfalls are nothing new for Yosemite; More than 1,000 incidents have occurred in the last 150 years. Authorities closed the Super Slide, a popular climbing route, due to the danger of falling rocks.
A huge crack called “Super Natural” was first detected in 2023 and widened and narrowed as the seasons changed. The closure, implemented in August 2024, is still in effect because other dangers have been identified.
Jesse McGahey, the park’s climbing program manager, said a scientist surveying the area was stunned by what he saw.
“The park geologist said they’d never seen anything like it. He’d never observed it in his 15 years in Yosemite,” McGahey said.
Although rockfalls are a natural phenomenon, they can be sharply accelerated by human activities. This has been observed in the Alps, where permafrost melting under the influence of a warming atmosphere weakens the structure of the mountain.
Loose rocks pose a serious threat to high altitude hikers. In July 2025, 100 tourists had to be evacuated from the Brenta Dolomites in Northern Italy after a series of rockfalls. earth.org.
Yosemite is working with the USGS to monitor the situation closely and take appropriate action. proactive steps Mitigating risks, such as removing or reusing high-risk buildings.
Visitors can help their efforts by reporting any rockfall, no matter how small, to the authorities, as all the data helps create an effective form. local measures to counter risks.
It’s also a good idea to remind yourself of anything. friends or family They plan to visit Yosemite to pay attention to their surroundings.
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