Hiker From O.C. Dies on Climb Up Half Dome

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK â€”  A Huntington Beach man died, apparently of natural causes, while climbing the back side of Half Dome along the route of a cable strung to aid hikers, park officials said Wednesday.

Michael Gerde, 50, was hiking with a friend on Tuesday when he collapsed after climbing 150 feet along the final section of the cable. He fell back about five feet onto the granite.

“We don’t know exactly what happened,� park ranger Don Coelho said. “We’re still investigating and don’t know at this time whether he died from natural causes, like a cardiac arrest or something, or from injuries from the fall. As you know, he didn’t fall very far or hard.�

Bystanders performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation for about an hour until park paramedics arrived at the scene by helicopter. Gerde was dead when officials arrived.

Gerde, who retired in June, had been an elementary-school teacher in the Los Angeles district for more than 35 years, his sister Mary Kay said.

A father of three grown children, Gerde went to Yosemite this week with a few friends and family members.

Gerde, who relatives said exercised daily, was a nature lover who visited Yosemite Park every year.

“He loved the outdoors,� said Chris Siragusa, Gerde’s brother-in-law. “He would go to Yosemite at least once a year. He’d done all the trails before, except Half Dome. This was his first hike up Half Dome.�