Cody Byers, Fresno Climber dies in Yosemite

They were using double ropes and had just made the first rapp. They made a single rope rap to avoid getting their rope stuck in the notorious bushes just a few raps down from the top. I wasn't too clear on what happened next, but Eric said he wasn't paying attention when Cody began to descend again, first. He said that one end of the rope slipped through Cody's ATC and the rope went whizzing through the anchor and Cody fell with both ropes. So, I am speculating that Cody may have had the other rope coiled on him, leaving both ropes still tied together, but perhaps he grabbed onto the wrong tail.

Eric was stuck at the belay for about an hour and a half until a following party came down and he rapped with them.

It was Cody's fourth time down the raps. He knew where he was going. There's nothing wrong with the rappels. I cannot say what caused him to let one end of the rope slip through his belay device, but then knowing that doesn't bring my friend back.

We rappelled the route shortly after the tragedy happened and were able to stay with his climbing partner for a short while until the rescue team came in. We are so deeply sorry and are sending our prayers and thoughts to his family, friends and climbing partner!