California teen hiker told his dad ‘this was not reality’ before walking off a cliff

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Exclusive: “I made a motion to try to grab him, but...he was too far,” Zane Wach’s distraught Dad, Ryan, told The Independent as his son remains in a coma

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

A 14-year-old California boy was left in a medically induced coma after he walked off a 120-foot slope while climbing Mount Whitney earlier this month.

Ryan Wach, an adept hiker and mountaineer, and his son Zane, took to the mountain on June 10, and opted for an advanced trail. While it was Zane’s first time on Mount Whitney, his dad told The Independent that he wasn’t worried give his son’s athletic ability and hiking experience.