A witness has identified the second climber to die in Joshua Tree National Park this year as Tina Fiori, an experienced climber.
The victim was 50 years old, according to Park Superintendent David Smith, who did not reveal his name to The Desert Sun.
We extend our sincere condolences to Ms. Firoi’s family. Hearing this tragic news must be devastating for them.
Obituary: California Tina Fiori Death Video Exposed
Tina Fiori died on Saturday afternoon after falling 80 feet while rock climbing. At around 4 p.m. on Saturday, Riverside County sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of an accidental death close to the Sheep Pass Campground in Joshua Tree National Park.
Representatives from the sheriff’s department said there were no signs of foul play and that all witness reports were consistent, but they declined to provide any additional details Monday evening.
The climber was identified as Tina Fiori, an experienced climber, by fellow climber Matt Himmelstein, 55, of Orange, according to The Desert Sun. Fiori was a Riverside County resident who was 51 years old.
The victim fell 80 feet near Sheep Pass Campground on Saturday. Himmelstein said he and one other person were climbing with Fiori, who said she had secured herself after reaching the top.
Tina Flori Death- Joshua Tree Climber Dead By Falling
Himmelstein said Tina Fiori had looped her safety rope through nylon webbing left attached to a permanent anchor by someone who had previously completed the climb.
The group was “top-roping,” Himmelstein explained, which involves stringing a rope through a permanent anchor system at the summit of a climb.
If a climber falls, the rope acts as a safety mechanism, supporting their weight. A second person assists with gathering slack and serving as a counterweight at the bottom of the climb.
Climbing equipment, such as webbing, a type of nylon rope, is frequently left attached to the permanent anchors at the top of a climb, according to Himmelstein. Fiori fell to her death when the weathered webbing gave way as she leaned back to repel down the rocks.
Used webbing and other leftover equipment are “not uncommon” in any climbing location, according to Himmelstein, but it is done less frequently in Joshua Tree than in many other places.
He hopes that people will learn not to use “tat,” a climbing slang term for old webbing leftover at sites, as a result of the tragic incident.
What Happened To Tina Flori?
Tina Fiori’s death is the second this year in Joshua Tree National Park, which is famous for its iconic rock formations and climbing trails.
Michael Spitz, a 35-year-old San Diego schoolteacher, died on Jan. 16 while free-solo climbing.
The next morning, his body was discovered near the Hidden Valley Nature Trail at the base of the Sentinel Wall. Spitz was climbing the Illusion Dweller route, a favorite of his that he had climbed both with and without a rope many times.