SPRINGDALE, Utah, March 15, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — Zion National Park officials have identified the man who died Wednesday in a rock climbing accident.
Eric Michael Klimt, 36, of Portland, Oregon, was climbing a technical route in the park when he fell, said park spokeswoman Alyssa Baltrus in a news release. Baltrus said the cause of the incident is still under investigation by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in cooperation with the National Park Service.
The news release said: “Klimt had been top rope solo climbing a popular 1,200 foot technical route in Zion Canyon called ‘Moonlight Buttress,’ on the west side of the canyon. He had a rope fixed on the upper three pitches when he fell.”
Klimt was witnessed falling at approximately 12:30 p.m. on March 9 by another climbing party on the route. These climbers notified park rangers who located Klimt’s body at the base of the route. He was pronounced dead at the scene. It is estimated that he fell approximately 800 to 1000 feet.
“Our condolences go out to Eric’s friends and family” said Zion National Park Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh.
