Tourist hit by rock plunges 25 feet to her death at climbing alcove, NM officials say

A tourist fell 25 feet to her death at a popular climbing alcove after she was struck by a falling rock, New Mexico officials said.

Brenda Holzer, a 54-year-old from Yorkville, Illinois, was climbing the Alcove House at Bandelier National Monument on Wednesday, March 23, park officials told McClatchy News.

The Alcove House consists of four wooden ladders and stone stairs through an alcove 140 feet above the canyon floor.

Holzer was struck by a falling rock and plummeted 25 feet to the second of the four ladders, according to the park.

First responders rushed to help Holzer, but resuscitation efforts were not successful. She died at the scene.

The National Park Service is investigating the incident.

The Alcove House closed the afternoon of Wednesday, March 23, and remains closed while park officials investigate the incident.

The alcove was previously home to at least 25 Ancestral Pueblo people, according to the National Park Service. Tourists now climb the alcove to see the reconstructed viga holes and former homes.

Bandelier National Monument encompasses more than 33,000 acres about 40 miles west of Santa Fe. Tourists are drawn to the petroglyphs and dwellings carved into the cliffs.

Many people visit the park during spring break, according to the National Park Service. Park officials said the weather can change quickly and be unpredictable during the spring.

This story was originally published March 24, 2022 at 4:36 PM with the headline "Tourist hit by rock plunges 25 feet to her death at climbing alcove, NM officials say."