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YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK – An injured rock climber was rescued by helicopter Monday after spending a night on a sheer granite wall. 

The climber was injured Sunday when loose rocks tumbled on him and he fell a short distance, said park spokeswoman Deb Schweizer. He injured a shoulder and elbow. 

The Colorado man, whose name was not immediately released, was attempting a challenging route on Cathedral Rocks, a dramatic peak across the valley from El Capitan. He was about 300 feet short of reaching the top of the 2,000-foot climb. 

A man and woman were killed last year climbing the same route, Direct North Buttress. A park investigation said falling rocks caused the deaths, Schweizer said. 

The stranded climber spent the night on a ledge with his partner until a team of rescuers reached him and hauled him to a place where he and a ranger could be lifted to safety by helicopter. 

He was taken to a medical clinic in the park for treatment.