Hiker dies in fall from Yosemite's Half Dome

Sept. 6 (UPI) -- A 29-year-old hiker died this week in a fall while climbing the Half Dome at Yosemite National Park, park officials said Friday.

Danielle Burnett, of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., was climbing using the cables on the 4,737-foot granite rock formation when she fell Thursday.

"She fell over 500 feet down steep, rocky terrain, and was deceased when Park Rangers arrived on the scene," a statement from Yosemite said.

Park spokesman Scott Gediman said the incident was under investigation.

The hike to the landmark granite rock formation is 14 miles to 16 miles round trip and includes a 400-foot cable climb, CNN reported. The hike requires a permit from the National Park Service, which issues a maximum of 300 each day.

The cable hike is open from May to October each year. In the past 15 years, there have been more than 290 falling accidents at Half Dome, including 13 deaths.