Glendora woman plunges 1,000 feet to death in Utah's Zion National Park

A Glendora woman fell 1,000 feet to her death Sunday morning in Zion National Park in Utah, park officials said.

Nancy Maltez, 55, was at the top of the Angels Landing trail with her husband and three children, ages 14 to 20, when she fell off the vertical sandstone cliff, said park spokesman Ron Terry. She was killed instantly.

“Preliminary reports are that she stumbled,” Terry said.

Terry said police dispatchers in St. George, Utah, received a 911 call about the fall at 8:24 a.m.

Sheriff’s detectives in Washington County, Utah, are investigating the death with the National Park Service.

Comments

[GWG]

Angel's Landing is a perilous hike. We've done it several times. In many places the trail narrows to 18 inches wide with 1000 foot cliffs on one or both sides. Although the trail has chains embedded in the rock, there have been several deaths there in the past few years. Our hearts go out to this woman's family.

[lezlee]

Years ago I went on a backpacking trip and we came back into Zion via the Angels Landing trail. It was raining and the rock was slick. I was horrified at how dangerous the hike was. Sheer drops, narrow ledges, too many people crowded together. I hung back and stayed away from other people, fearing they would bump me over the edge to certain death. I thought then that they needed to shut this trail down and I still feel the same way. It should be restricted to guided hikes with small numbers of people. Yes, it is a big "attraction" at Zion, but that does not excuse the responsibility of the NPS to put safety first. Often people who visit parks think of them as "Disneyland" and ignore the very real dangers of cliffs, bears, etc...I have visited Zion many times and each time I refused to go on that hike, explaining to family that I had no desire to die that day. And if I see another interview of a ranger at the Grand Canyon blithly talking about how many people died from falls there this year....Somebody needs to step in and smack the NPS around and get more safety measures in place. I cringe when I go to the Grand Canyon and see small children unattended near sheer dropoffs. It is long past time to set in place more restrictions to ensure safety. No one needs to die to see the beauty of Zion or the Grand Canyon.

[vision63]

Unbelievably tragic. My thoughts and prayers are with her family.

[Wil]

When I came across this article I cringed. I was there on Saturday & Sunday (the day of the accident). I did not see or hear of any such accident while I was there but just to know that I was within feet of the scene of the accident makes me feel really bad. I did the hikes on Saturday but totally avoided Angel''s Landing... My thoughts go out to her family.

[Amy]

I've been on that hike several times, and find the safety warnings and precautions adequate. This tragic accident does not necessitate shutting down the trail.

[Andrea]

This is a wonderful family who loved to hike. A great family that did lots of outtings together . It is a sad day for the kids and Byron who lost the love of his life

[Gloria Provencio]

I knew Nancy Maltez and her family. She was a wonderful mom, a very kind person, a great friend to many and always had a smile on her face. Everyone always had great things so say about her. she was such a nice person and friend. I am still in disbelief, she's in God's care now.

[Ashley Martin]

I knew the son Byron and one of the daughters Briana

[GWG]

I've noticed a lot of comments online recommending that the gov't put regulations on hiking trails such as this, but your odds of falling off Angels Landing are about 1 in 79,000 (300 people daily during 120 summer days x 2 years since last death). Lightning kills 1 in 79,000 and you don't make laws about people going out in storms. It's a calculated risk and it is very rare. Just be very cautious.

[Mike]

I note that the story reports that she fell while at "the top" of Angels Landing.

The top is actually a rather safe place to be -- much wider and flat than the trail leading up to the summit. I think, if asked, the NPS would probably say that the majority of the infrequent falls that due occur happen between Scout Lookout and the summit.

It is a very sad and tragic occurence, but given how wide it is on top -- if that is indeed where she fell from -- it is not the level of safety of the trail that is to blame.

[Cindy Boyd]

Hi Gloria. I also knew Nancy. I met her 18 years ago. I just spoke to her 2 weeks ago. They were purchasing items for college. I am shocked. I will miss your smile Nancy!

[cynthav]

I am Nancy's sister-in-law, her husband's little sister. Thanks to all of you offering kind thoughts and prayers. Our whole family is in a lot of pain right now. Nancy was an important part of our family and we will miss her quiet presence and graciousness. To those making awful comments/accusations, please keep them to yourself. This is a terrible tragedy and our family should be respected. Her husband and children need to find peace.

[Ramona]

I worked with Byron many years ago. There is no more devoted husband and father. My heart goes out to Byron and their beautiful children. Byron, tell the girls that "the HAND!" lady sends her love and sympathy.

[Christina]

Her oldest daughter has been a friend of mine since high school and it hurts knowing how much pain she is in right now. Tom: What you said was very wrong and hurtful. You need to think before you say things like that. Her father is a very caring and loving man and he would never do that. Have some respect for the family.

[Cheryl Takahara]

I was hiking at 8:30 the day before Nancy fell, and when I heard on the shuttle on Sunday that the trail was closed due to a search and rescue in progress, my stomach got sick with dread. I can't stop imagining your family's horror and pain. I have been feeling love and praying for your family. It seems to me that your family made several wise decisions, including hiking early in the morning, beating the crowds, and not being part of an over-sized group. Don't let others judge you. I am very saddened about your family's loss.

[Gabriela Magana]

Byron, the son, is one of my best friends and none of our other friends can even imagine what the family is going through, especially considering the closeness of him and his mom. All our thoughts and prayers go out to the Maltez family.

[Cookie]

There's no one to blame - but I will say that the very casual attitude that many visitors have (NOT Nancy in particular - but bunches of people who go too close to the edge and collectively lure each other into places that no sane person would go if they were on top of a building in Manhattan, as a comparison) is just amazing - at both Zion and at Grand Canyon. It's amazing it doesn't happen more often.

I lost a very close friend in a similar tragedy - a moment of inattention on a high place is all it takes. With people milling about and so many going very close to the edge, and with the exertion, it's easy to forget exactly where one is. The very well-maintained trial to the top of Angel's Landing conveys a false sense of security and although the NPS clearly warns people away from the edge, the desire to look over the edge or stand near it is very strong in many people. A person has to battle that urge and never, ever, go near the edge - the view is no better.

It's terrible this happened in front of the kids. Lezlee is right about the Disney attitude. This is a hike for more experienced near-rocking climbing types, not families and not people with any kind of balance problem (which is a large portion of Americans).

[Diana Brettrager]

I know the Maltez family as my sons went to grade school with their children. Nancy was a wonderful person and devoted wife and mother. She always had a smile on her face and went on several school outings with the children. It is hard to fathom the pain and grief the family is going through right now. Thankfully, they are devoted to their faith and I know it will help them through this terrible time. We are here to support and pray for them now and always. She will be terribly missed.

[Demented Filth]

I knew the family and my prayers will be going out to them all. This is a tragic accident and should remind us all not to take our lives for granted. Horrible things can happen to the best of people.

Keep it clean

[Derinda, Tim & Laura Burke]

Byron, Vivian, Brianna, and little Byron....
I am so, so, sorry to hear about this tragedy.
I am at a loss for words. I remember when I first met Nancy, she was pregnant with little Byron when our kids were in kindergarten together. When I met Nancy, I remember noticing what a very nice, kind and caring mother she was. I also noticed how much she cared for Byron (her husband). Everything was always with family. From what I've seen, she gave her 100% to her family. Both Nancy and Byron cared deeply for children in general. Nancy...you will be missed by many, many people. She's with our father in heaven now. God be with all the family at this time. Love to all of you!

[Rudy Rousseau]

How cool is is that this 55 year old woman was out hiking with her entire family in this day an age? It's extremely unfortunate what happened, but she obviously had the right idea on how families should be together! My wife, son, 2 sisters in law and a brother in law were in Zion national park last week and it is a beautiful place. We had a great time and I will hike angels landing next time I visit. Who knows maybe she landed in an angels wings!! Our thoughts go out to the family. P.S. if I see Tom there I hope there's an angel to catch him, sounds like he needs one.

[Stephanie Devine]

I was there that morning with my husband. We met Nancy & her family as we were leaving Scout Lookout to go back down the mountain. They seemed like a very nice family. Their daughter took our photo. Nancy & Byron said they had done this hike (to Angel's Landing) several times already with the kids. They asked if we had gone to the top & I said "no, I had gone far enough. I had 3 kids back at the lodge that I wanted to raise." Then I said something like, "not to insinuate that you guys will have any problems." In hindsight I feel badly at remembering this conversation but I never dreamed something like this would have happened.

We were walking down when we heard but we didn't know exactly "who" right away. We had been at the bottom only a couple of minutes when Vivian & Brianna came down. Then we knew. To clarify, Nancy was NOT at the top of Angel's Landing; she was not quite to the top when the accident occurred.

I asked Vivian her Mom's name so I could pray for her & she told me it was Nancy. Vivian, if you read this, I am still praying for Nancy & for all of you.

[Yvonne, California, Mom of 5]

My heart goes out the the Maltez family. You are in my prayers. I hiked Angel's Landing on Wednesday August 5th. I feel so shocked and horrified. It was a very crowded week for Zion. Even I felt a little more nervous than usual hiking Angel's Landing this last time because there were so many people. People going down would not use the chains as people passed them going up. I felt very concerned about the casual crossings of people going up and down. I am a strong athlete but even I was humbled by slippery sand on slippery rocks. I hung on to chains for dear life and lost my footing at least twice. It is an exhilarating and beautiful hike but even so I'm not sure if I would do it again. I truly believe this could have happened to anyone even someone being as careful as they thought they could be. I'm sure this was the outcome of some very unlucky footing and timing. I am so sorry. May Heavenly Father wrap his arms around your family and comfort you in this very painful time.

[Anne]

This is a terrible tragedy, I am very sorry for all the family. Accidents are unfortunately a part of life and as things go, they cannot always be avoided. That is why I like to be prepared for every possible eventuality, I never hike without the correct kit and always have a first aid kit, flashlight, space blanket and cell phone. I recently bought a Motorola W376 Tracfone with DMFL for less than $30 which means that I'm not concerned if the phone gets damaged. It also comes with a camera which is great to have on a hike and bluetooth, web access and FM radio. When the worst comes to the worst I like to know that I can always call for help.

[byron]

I propose we build a 7-foot chain-link fence around the perimeter of the entire Grand Canyon and close down Zion Nat'l Park to hiking. Nature is too dangerous to be enjoyed without restraint.