
View of Hidden Valley in the 1,234-square-mile Joshua Tree National Park, April 07,2008. Joshua Tree National Park is located in south-eastern California and declared as a U.S. National Park in 1994, and a U.S. National Monument since 1936. A large part of the park is designated to wilderness area . AFP PHOTO GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)(credit: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK (AP) — A 33-year-old rock climber is dead after falling about 110 feet while rappelling down a rock formation in Joshua Tree National Park.
Park spokesman Joe Zarki said Tuesday that David Pinegar of Loomis, Calif. was pronounced dead after Monday afternoon’s fall.
Zarki said Pinegar and a companion were rappelling down Saddle Rock, one of the tallest rock formations at the desert park, when he somehow fell as he was coming down.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the cause of the accident.
Zarki said he had no information on Pinegar’s rock climbing experience.
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