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Climbing school owner falls to death

Thursday, June 6, 2002 | 10:52 a.m.

Noted climber and Owner of Sky's the Limit climbing school fell to his death Wednesday rappelling down a rock face in an apparent accident at Red Rock National Conservation Area.

Randal Grandstaff, 44, fell about 150 feet around 12:40 p.m. Wednesday after lowering a tourist, who had been climbing with him for the past three days, off the rock face, Sgt. Mike Petricka, of Metro Police's search and rescue unit, said.

The search and rescue unit is investigating the fall, but Petricka said it appeared to be an accident.

"We don't know what happened. We don't know if it was an equipment failure or human error," he said.

"He's one of the most well-known guys out there. But anything can happen out there on the rocks."

Grandstaff fell to his death as he was coming down off the rock face. The tourist was on the ground, Petricka said.

Grandstaff, who grew up in Las Vegas, had spent his life climbing mountains around the world. He graduated from Bishop Gorman High School in 1976.

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