ROCK CLIMBING NEWS ITEM

Famous Climber Died in Yosemite Park, California

WEDNESDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2006

An internationally famous rock climber died after falling 500 feet as he and his partner rappelled down during their first attempt at a new route on Leaning Tower in Yosemite Park, California.

Todd Skinner who ranked among the world's best climber during the 1990's died yesterday in Yosemite Park. According to test.denverpost.com he and his partner Paul Piana had just reached the summit of the 3, 600 foot free climb when a big rock at the edge fall down cutting the ropes that holds their gear and leaving Skinner with broken ribs and Piana with a broken leg.

Born in Pinedale, Wyoming, Skinner joined his father and brother on a Wind River Mountains climbing trip at age 10 and in 1998 he secured his reputation as a pioneer of big wall free climbing with his first free ascent of the Salathe Wall on El Capitan in Yosemite.