Falling boulder prompts two-day rescue of climbers on Yosemite's El Capitan

Three rock climbers were rescued Monday by helicopter from the wall of El Capitan at Yosemite National Park after one of them was hit by a falling 200-pound boulder, park officials said.

The two-day rescue operation by National Park Serv-ice rangers included assistance from the Army National Guard and California Highway Patrol. Climbers Sarah Land, 24, of Oak-hurst, and Walker Mackey, 25, and Rio Mackey, 23, both of Boulder, Colo., were lowered down the wall of the 7,563-foot granite monolith after spending the night on the wall.

Land was injured when a 200-pound rock dislodged and struck her. The trio attempted to finish the climb, but were forced to call for assistance because of Land's injury. Walker and Rio Mackey were not injured.

With daylight dwindling, rangers were not able to bring in a helicopter or initiate the rescue, and the climbers were forced to spend Sunday night on the face of El Capitan.

The Army National Guard Chinook helicopter from Stockton, a CHP helicopter from Auburn and a private helicopter from Columbia were used in the rescue. The Chinook took rescue workers to the top of El Capitan, where rangers Matt Stark and Chris Bellino were lowered to the climbers. Once the rangers arrived, the group was lowered to the base of El Capitan.

Land was taken by CHP helicopter for medical treatment outside of Yosemite.

More than 30 Yosemite rangers and rescue team members assisted in the operation, park officials said.