[AlpineRose]

Jimmybob's KimaTV link has a map showing where the 911 call happened and where the recovery was made. The fall occurred on the Commonwealth Basin (west) side of Kendall Ridge below Kendall Peak. So not on the Katwalk at all. As Yana mentions, an embedded video shows the section of trail where she fell. At that point, the PCT is cut into the side of a steep rocky slope. Lots of steep rocky terrain below the trail. There are no fall zones on trails, and this was one of them. I tripped and fell off a trail once. This trail traversed a steep slope for about a half mile. Some of the terrain below the trail was benign, some was just like the rocky terrain where this hiker fell. Fortunately I fell in one of the benign areas. Otherwise, it would have ended badly. It really can happen to anyone. It's why they call events like these accidents.

[boot up]

Its a very long fall to the bottom if you slip here. Kendall Katwalk WA 11/15/14

Looking back at the icy edgy section that always creeps me out. Kendall Katwalk WA 11/15/14

Icy shot of that stretch, but you get the idea. Under that ice is a rocky rubbly tread. I always breathed a sigh of relief to be off that section, even with hiking poles, especially with my ankle which would collapse for no reason, especially as I got into my 60's. Definitely just a tragic accident for her, that could have happened to anyone on the sketchy section.

[Just_Some_Hiker]

[Joseph]

Oh that's awful. Thank you for clarifying.

[Joseph]

[hikerskierbruce]

I was on the trail that day and passed the deceased hiker's friends on the way up and down. Yana is exactly right: the place where she fell doesn't look especially scary because it's a long slope rather than a precipitous drop like the actual Katwalk. It's covered with plants more than rocks. Also the trail there is pretty flat and not especially narrow. But the dropoff is very steep, probably too steep for most of us to self-arrest, especially if you get some speed before you realize what's happening, and a long way down before trees would stop you. And while a fall is unlikely, everyone falls occasionally in unlikely places. It's so sad. I have no idea what exactly caused this woman to fall. But my takeaway is to be more aware of places where a fall, however unlikely, would likely lead to a bad outcome. My condolences to her friends and family.

[gb]

I believe this was an Olympia woman who just retired from Clatsop CC as a nursing professor. Her name was Laurie Choate and she was a member of the Mountaineers and took the Naturalist's course this year.

[nordique]

Thanks, Gary, for this information. We didn't hear about this fatality until dinner time, when we remembered that a group of our friends were hiking the Katwalk that day. As they descended, they encountered several hikers beside the trail who were very upset. Very sad situation.

[Randito]

https://www.mountaineers.org/blog/remembering-mountaineer-laurie-choate

[JimmyBob]

[RumiDude]

I am pretty sure I have met her more than once. I never knew her name, but upon seeing her the photographs of her I am sure of it. RIP, Laurie! Rumi

[Yana]

Thank you for sharing the link, RandyHiker. Laurie sounds like a wonderful person, someone the Mountaineers and the outdoor community was lucky to have. Her fall was surely a terrible thing to witness. May her hiking partners find peace. RIP, Laurie.

[DIYSteve]

Very sad. She looks joyous in those hiking pics. RIP Laurie. Vibes to her hiking partners, family and friends.