Witnesses say the climber, whose name has not been released, had been 'free soloing' - rock climbing that is done without the use of a rope or protective equipment - just before noon when the tragedy occurred. A group of climbers propelled over to help the young victim but it was too late. When search and rescue arrived the climber was pronounced dead. James Faerber said he was 'traumatized' witnessing the man fall to his death off the popular mountain, known as El Capitan or El Cap, that has a summit of 3,677 feet. 'I've been through a huge range of emotions for sure,' Faerber told the San Diego-Tribune.