500-Foot Fall, Freezing Night: Climber Rescued from Sierra Nevada Ledge

A mountain climber fell 500 feet down a steep slope in California’s Sierra Nevada, survived the impact, and spent a freezing night stranded on a narrow ledge before a helicopter crew rescued him. The climber, whose name has not been released, was reported missing late Friday after he failed to return from a solo climb. Rescue teams located him Saturday morning. The climber was airlifted to a hospital. His condition is not yet known. Authorities say the fall and the cold night could have been fatal, but the climber managed to stay on the ledge until help arrived.