Colorado climber falls to his death in Zion National Park

SPRINGDALE — A Colorado man fell 300 feet to his death Friday while climbing in Zion National Park, a park spokesman said.

James Martin Welton, 34, of Durango, Colo., was climbing the Touchstone when he fell, said Zion spokesman Tom Haraden. The fall was reported about 7:15 p.m. by other climbers who stopped a Zion shuttle bus. A team of 11 rescue workers recovered Welton's body.

The fall is under investigation, Haraden said. Authorities want to determine if an equipment failure or a judgment error contributed to the fall.

Touchstone is one of Zion's most popular climbing routes. It stretches 1,000 feet from riverbed to rim and typically takes two days to climb, Haraden said. Welton was considered an experienced climber who recently ascended El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.

It is the first fatality at Zion in 2008 and the sixth climbing fatality since 1983.