More forthcoming information about this sad incident-- she had completed the first of the uppermost three ( IIRC) ladder pitches at the upper reaches of Precipice Trail.
MichaelJ's photos tell the story. That far up the trail, you are literally switchbacking across the cliff face on very narrow ledges and transitions can become " boulder problems" at altitude. Look at his second photo in this thread. The leading climber ( in red fleece jacket) has come off that first ladder pitch and has to transition suddenly to climbers right while making a big step DOWN to the continuing trail level.
( Precipice Trail has more than a few of these " BIG STEP qualifiers". If you are 5'3 or less, you need to have some comfortable flexiblity and be confident in your overall body strength, upper, lower and core. )
Are you right handed, or left handed ? Right Footed or Goofy Footed? Which is your dominant eye, how do you typically move, and how do you tell yourself to move differently in the transitions or manuevers that make you question your response ?
How will you <mentally> plan to negociate the problem? There are aids in place for hand holds on the cliff face and there are toe-rails, but if you over balance or underbalance, turn around to accomodate left or right dominance, or misjudge distance, lose your hand hold or put a foot wrong .... there is no margin for error up there.
I do think, still, that Precipice Trail is a masterful trail layout from a time well past. It is a huge gift to be enjoyed. It is a trail that has lessons to teach on every attempt, it will keep you humble. No two ascents or descents will ever be the same.
Breeze
Looks like this young lady was on a good path in her life, so terrible
