stanford grad student dies in climbing accident

Sad story out of Palo Alto about Christina "Chris" Chan, a Stanford University graduate student and climbing enthusiast who fell to her death last week while climbing at Yosemite National Park: Memorial services set for Stanford climber Christina 'Chris' Chan.

Chan, 31, fell 400 feet as she was descending from the north face of Eichorn Peak (also referred to as Eichorn Pinnacle) Friday afternoon, while "free soloing."

Chan, a fourth-year graduate student in political science, was 2008 co-president of the Stanford Alpine Club, through which Chan shared her passion for climbing with others, according to the club's website.

Her climbing partner, Jim Castelaz, also of Stanford, saw her falling and quickly descended, hoping against all odds that she was still alive, according to a posting he made on Chan's memorial Facebook page.

He said he saw her falling: "I was in shock and horrified and helpless."

Free soloing means climbing without a rope or safety protection, and is usually practiced only by the most skilled of climbers.

Chan was working on her PhD in political science. Memorial services will be held Sunday, July 18 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Stanford Memorial Church. View her memorial Facebook page here: In Memory of Chris Chan.