Two Rock Climbers Die at Tahquitz Rock

Two rock climbers were found dead near the town of Idyllwild at Tahquitz Rock in California yesterday. There’s no information about what led to the accident.

Someone reported the climbers in distress to the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department around noon on Wednesday. Sgt. Wendy Brito-Gonzalez, spokeswoman for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, said a rescue team hiked out to the area and found the climbers had died from their injuries. There were several thunderstorms around the time of the incident, but it’s unknown if weather was a factor.

Nearly two decades ago, in October 2003, there was another accident where two rock climbers died at Tahquitz Rock. Dave Kellogg and Kelly Tufo, aged 32 and 41, fell from the top of a multi-pitch while taking down their anchor – read a report about what happened here.

Tahquitz Rock is one of the locations where technical rock climbing was born in North America. Learn more here.

Inaccessible Rescue:rpt@12:25 Tahquitz Rock, Idyllwild. Report of two injured rock climbers. Firefighters are attempting to hike to the victim’s location. Mountain Rescue Team requested. #HumberIC pic.twitter.com/eCyG8E8qxc

— CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) September 28, 2022

#HumberIC [UPDATE] Rescuers made access to the location of the victims, both victims perished at the scene. The incident has been turned over to @RSO

— CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) September 28, 2022