Climber rescued at Yosemite

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. -- An experienced South Korean mountain climber was caught in an avalanche on Yosemite National Park's Half Dome and was stranded for about 16 hours before he was rescued Tuesday.

Jun Ho Wang, 38, was swept more than 100 yards down a rock face and into an icy, low-lying gully Monday afternoon. On Tuesday morning he was plucked from the northwest face of Half Dome by a helicopter crew and flown to safety.

Yosemite Medical Clinic staff said he had a few broken bones but was alert and responsive.

Wang was flown to Doctor's Medical Clinic in Modesto to be treated for a fracture in his left wrist and multiple breaks in his left leg, Pence said.

Wang became stranded after falling snow and ice separated him from his seven-person climbing party, Yosemite spokeswoman Adrienne Freeman said. One of the other climbers radioed for help after getting off the mountain.

Freeman says the experienced climber was well equipped and able to hunker down in his sleeping bag as temperatures dipped below freezing Tuesday morning.

"His vitals were very strong when he left, but he obviously had a traumatic night in the cold out there," Freeman said.