Hiker dies in fall at Yosemite's 9,000-foot Half Dome

May 23 (UPI) -- A hiker was killed this week in California's Yosemite National Park after falling from one of the park's most identifiable formations, federal officials said.

A man was climbing the Cable Route on the Half Dome Monday during thunderstorms, the National Park Service said in a statement when he fell.

"Rangers were notified that a hiker had slipped and fell off the Half Dome cables," the agency said.

Officials said the man's body was recovered Tuesday. His partner was not hurt.

NPS spokeswoman Jamie Richards said the men were scaling the steepest part of the trail where rangers recently installed cables to help hikers get to the top of the 8,800-foot rock face.

Monday's was the first death on the Half Dome since 2011 and the first in the park this year.

A rock fall on Yosemite's iconic El Capitan granite monolith killed a park visitor and injured another in September.