On March 22, disaster struck. While ascending fixed lines high on the wall, Harlin was hauling himself upward when the rope-frayed from constant abrasion against sharp rock-suddenly snapped. He fell to his death about 2,000 feet from the summit, plunging down 3,000 feet-an instant and catastrophic end that shocked both teams and the wider climbing world following the ascent.
The solo female climber fell while nearing the summit of California's second-tallest mountain, injuring her leg severely and losing her backpack, leaving her alone and without supplies.