Some moments with our children stay with us forever, especially the ones filled with quiet joy. That’s how a father felt as he hiked beside his daughter, Grace, on a beautiful summer day in Yosemite. They had planned a long, challenging trek together, hoping to make memories on the famous Half Dome trail.

The pair reached the top safely, taking in the wide, breathtaking views. But as they began their descent, dark storm clouds rolled in, and the rain made the smooth rock dangerously slick. Jonathan urged his daughter to move slowly, knowing the trail becomes far more treacherous when wet.

The turning point came when Grace looked at her father with worry in her eyes. “Dad, my shoes are so slippery,” she said—her final words to him. Moments later, she lost her footing and slid past him before he could reach her hand.

Jonathan called out to her, refusing to give up hope as he waited for help. Stranded by the steep cliffs, he shouted his love into the valley below, praying she could somehow hear him. Other hikers stayed with him as they waited hours for rescue crews to arrive.

When a helicopter finally located Grace, the heartbreaking truth became clear. She had not survived the fall. Her father later said he found a small measure of comfort knowing she did not suffer long. Grace had been a bright, hardworking college student with a love for the outdoors.

Now, Jonathan hopes for better safety measures on Half Dome so no other family faces a tragedy like theirs. And he carries with him the memory of a daughter who lived bravely and loved deeply.