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[bigtroyjon]

A red ban mark over a stick figure swimming just doesn't sufficiently convey how incredibly dangerous it is to wade in that pool area, imo.

Did you really not see this sign that was posted:

 

[Devolution]

If they climbed the railing they weren't by the emerald pool actually (where that sign is, the swimming one). So that means they went on top of the falls quite close to the drop. You can just walk over to the emerald pool unobstructed. The railing isn't warning enough?

 

[bangai-o]

i always thought the rescue-e gets charged for helicopter rescues and everything involved.

 

[IamMattFox]

Did you really not see this sign that was posted:

I did and it made me want to travel to Vernal Falls to scratch off the 'e' on "bye."

 

[alphaNoid]

I had conflicting views about these kind of deaths. On one hand, i would never in a million years put myself in those situations, but I also know these extreme hikers that want to get off the beaten path.

There's a lot of folks out there that have the invincibility gene that tells them they are too skilled to die whether hiking, driving too fast, doing drugs, or whatever.

Basically, this isn't necessaily the same as planking on a balcony on the Darwin Award scale.

Yes it is, getting into moving water 25 feet before a 317ft waterfall is as dumb as it gets.

 

[Count Dookkake]

I did and it made me want to travel to Vernal Falls to scratch off the 'e' on "bye."

lol

 

[Mordeccai]

This reminded me that there was something similar that happened in Indore, India recently. Family crossing what I assume was a river basin, then got stuck as a flash flood swept them over a cliff (now a waterfall).

Bewarned, there is a Youtube Video of this.

Wow. Goddamn fuck. I literally just watched a family die.

Wow. Not very many things get to me on the internet any more, but this is really fucking with me.

: [

 

[Bradlums]

There are now words for this stupidity.

Ironic would be a good one

 

[Dresden]

Wow. Goddamn fuck. I literally just watched a family die.

Wow. Not very many things get to me on the internet any more, but this is really fucking with me.

: [

Well, it says two of them were rescued later, if it makes you feel better.

 

[pestul]

Went to Niagara Falls last month and I have to say, as much as I was in awe, it was also a completely terrifying experience (when the creative mind is active). Standing at the guard rail of horseshoe falls looking down at the relentless currents at the edge, you can easily think of how terrifying it would be to go over. Its sad to think that many of the fatalities there don't die instantly, but rather get caught in one of the swirling eddies behind the falls only to drown over time.

I have a brother-in-law who possesses that invincibility attitude. We've been hiking a few times and I always marvel at how he prances around near steep declines. I think he knows the danger of crevasses and long direct falls, but I still have trouble convincing him that steep declines are impossible to recover from when you slip/tumble. Probably results in a much worse way of dying actually.

Also, that 8mb gif from earlier is still quite stupid. What if flash flooding was ongoing at higher elevation unbeknownst as what happened in that terrifying youtube video posted. A little trickle and even dry surface can quickly become a raging torrent of water.

 

[Dastardly Jerks]

Newsflash for the humanity defense squad: People die all the time.

Someone died halfway through me writing this post. Oops, there's another. Aaaand. Yup. Another.

BAM. Child in Africa. Gone. And there's an old woman in Oklahoma - sheets just got pulled over her face.

They all deserve my condolences. I don't have enough energy for stupid people.

 

[sooperkool]

I wish I could find a picture of the mountain signs that say this, "Beyond this point, you will die". They need signs like that.

 

[Mordeccai]

Well, it says two of them were rescued later, if it makes you feel better.

Appreciate the effort man, maybe it does slightly, but I've still got that awful sinking feeling in my stomach.

C'est la vie, I suppose.

 

[mokeyjoe]

When I went to the Grand Canyon some idiot went beyond the barrier in order to take a photo (as if getting that much closer is going to make any bloody difference) and he fell off the edge. Miraculously he survived but I don't know what shape he was in after - presumably not good. I guess he landed on a ledge or something. Still, what a fool.

 

[tiff]

Newsflash for the humanity defense squad: People die all the time.

Someone died halfway through me writing this post. Oops, there's another. Aaaand. Yup. Another.

BAM. Child in Africa. Gone. And there's an old woman in Oklahoma - sheets just got pulled over her face.

They all deserve my condolences. I don't have enough energy for stupid people.

i don't have the energy for any of them. fuck everyone smoke weed vote Ron Paul.

 

[luxarific]

Did you really not see this sign that was posted:

Um, yes? Although it does have an amusing mispelling, it's missing two explicit warnings:

1.) YOU CAN DIE IF YOU PASS THE RAILINGS

2.) PEOPLE HAVE DIED WADING/SWIMMING IN THE AREA BEYOND THE RAILINGS.

It's certainly better than the no swimming stick figure though.

Does anyone have any photos of the location where this accident occurred?It would be interesting to see how explicit the signage is at that exact location.

In any case, this is still a tragedy, no matter how foolish the victims.

 

[Guts Of Thor]

Don't go chasing waterfalls.

 

[Old Gimlet Eyes]

Um, yes? Although it does have an amusing mispelling, it's missing two explicit warnings:

1.) YOU CAN DIE IF YOU PASS THE RAILINGS

2.) PEOPLE HAVE DIED WADING/SWIMMING IN THE AREA BEYOND THE RAILINGS.

It's certainly better than the no swimming stick figure though.

Does anyone have any photos of the location where this accident occurred?It would be interesting to see how explicit the signage is at that exact location.

In any case, this is still a tragedy, no matter how foolish the victims.

That is just one of the many, many signs on the way to Vernal falls. Not to mention your own inner sense of staying alive kicks in when you get close to the falls.

I had conflicting views about these kind of deaths. On one hand, i would never in a million years put myself in those situations, but I also know these extreme hikers that want to get off the beaten path.

There's a lot of folks out there that have the invincibility gene that tells them they are too skilled to die whether hiking, driving too fast, doing drugs, or whatever.

Basically, this isn't necessaily the same as planking on a balcony on the Darwin Award scale.

If you want to get off the beaten path, go backpacking. Don't cross over rails and ignore warning signs and get into rushing water over a waterfall. It just doesn't get much more stupid than that.

They should just put up big banners and concrete walls since a couple people out of the millions who visit will do stupid shit.

Are people being serious right now?

They obviously have never hiked Mist Trail.

 

[JGS]

Yes it is, getting into moving water 25 feet before a 317ft waterfall is as dumb as it gets.

Not necessarily arguing that as much as I'm arguing that adventurous people do stupid things all the time. When they succeed, they get props for it is all or at least emboldened to keep doing it.

Like I said, it's the equivalent of speeding on a curvy road but car commercials sure do make it look fun.

 

[Devolution]

Um, yes? Although it does have an amusing mispelling, it's missing two explicit warnings:

1.) YOU CAN DIE IF YOU PASS THE RAILINGS

2.) PEOPLE HAVE DIED WADING/SWIMMING IN THE AREA BEYOND THE RAILINGS.

It's certainly better than the no swimming stick figure though.

Does anyone have any photos of the location where this accident occurred?It would be interesting to see how explicit the signage is at that exact location.

In any case, this is still a tragedy, no matter how foolish the victims.

They should just put up big banners and concrete walls since a couple people out of the millions who visit will do stupid shit.

Are people being serious right now?

 

[bigtroyjon]

Um, yes? Although it does have an amusing mispelling, it's missing two explicit warnings:

1.) YOU CAN DIE IF YOU PASS THE RAILINGS

2.) PEOPLE HAVE DIED WADING/SWIMMING IN THE AREA BEYOND THE RAILINGS.

It's certainly better than the no swimming stick figure though.

Does anyone have any photos of the location where this accident occurred?It would be interesting to see how explicit the signage is at that exact location.

In any case, this is still a tragedy, no matter how foolish the victims.

There is a raging 300 foot waterfall on the other side of the railing. There is a picture in the thread of the exact point where the guy climbed over with his kid. If we have to tell people that falling off a 300 foot waterfall could kill them, then we are gonna need a lot more signs all over the world telling people that stupid shit could kill them.

I'm picturing it now. BBQ grill will need a sign saying you could die if you stick your face in the charcoal. Every single crosswalk will need sign saying if you cross the street in front of a car you could die. Roofs of tall buildings will need signs telling people that they will die if they jump off.

 

[FreeMufasa]

This reminded me that there was something similar that happened in Indore, India recently. Family crossing what I assume was a river basin, then got stuck as a flash flood swept them over a cliff (now a waterfall).

Bewarned, there is a Youtube Video of this.

Fuck man, this is so sad.

It also means i'm now going to have a dream about falling over a waterfall =(

 

[Devolution]

There is a raging 300 foot waterfall on the other side of the railing. There is a picture in the thread of the exact point where the guy climbed over with his kid. If we have to tell people that falling off a 300 foot waterfall could kill them, then we are gonna need a lot more signs all over the world telling people that stupid shit could kill them.

I'm picturing it now. BBQ grill will need a sign saying you could die if you stick your face in the charcoal. Every single crosswalk will need sign saying if you cross the street in front of a car you could die. Roofs of tall buildings will need signs telling people that they will die if they jump off.

Seriously if a railing and rapids before a waterfall wasn't enough to tell them to stay put, what would a sign do?

 

[ZephyrFate]

Don't go chasing waterfalls.

/thread by far

 

[Sagitario]

Love this shot:

I want a hi-res of this.

 

[Socreges]

Well, except for the people that get crushed or gored to death by bulls.

There's been one death in the last 16 years. I'm pretty sure more people have died from alcohol poisoning during the festival in that time. Holy Christ I've never drank so much in my life.

 

[jamesinclair]

"need more signs!"

No.

Look at this video I took 2 weeks ago. To get to the top, you need to walk past the waterfall. If looking at this, the danger of the situation has not made an impression on you, no sign will.

It's abundantly clear that one wrong step = death. There's absolutely nobody that can look at this waterfall and think "I can survive that"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TPmkqmMdls

 

[Socreges]

Problem is that people look at the (allegedly) calm water at the top of the waterfall and think they can comfortably cross. That's where signs are necessary if common sense fails.

That said, I'm not suggesting blanketing the place with signs. There's no ceiling for paternalism unless you want to completely cut off access. At some point you just need to reasonably conclude that people are responsible for themselves. If they die, then it was their own fault.

 

[Devolution]

"need more signs!"

No.

Look at this video I took 2 weeks ago. To get to the top, you need to walk past the waterfall. If looking at this, the danger of the situation has not made an impression on you, no sign will.

It's abundantly clear that one wrong step = death. There's absolutely nobody that can look at this waterfall and think "I can survive that"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TPmkqmMdls

It's a scary hike for sure, especially when the rock stairs up are really slick. The people going up get to hug the side of the mountain, going down is like "uhhhhh." I actually convinced a bunch of my friends to take a longer route up towards Nevada falls and back down into the valley because I didn't want some of them going down Vernal when it's that slick.

 

[vazel]

Very sad. It seems like there was maybe a four second window where at least two of them were paralyzed, didn't know what to do, but could have possibly survived if they just went for it.

Yea that was frustrating to watch.

Edit: Woah three pages later.

 

[RustyNails]

I feel really bad for the parents. Such anguish. You raise your kids from birth to adulthood, and it's all gone because of simple stupidity. No way you could survive that beastly waterfall.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

Yosemite rangers rarely punish those off trails:

On any given day, Yosemite National Park rangers arrest drunken drivers, hand out citations for illegal campfires or fine teenagers for spray-painting rocks.

Straying from a trail or climbing over a barrier at a waterfall - a transgression that led to the deaths of three visitors to the park's Vernal Fall this week - almost always goes unpunished, however.

At 1,200 square miles, the park's sheer size is one factor. But Yosemite officials have also concluded that writing tickets each time one of the park's 4 million visitors veers from a designated path would do little to deter such behavior and would, instead, curb enjoyment of one of the nation's most treasured wilderness areas.

"Yosemite and the national parks are inherently wild places," said Yosemite spokesman Scott Gediman. "We do all we can do to educate visitors through the Web, our newsletters and public signs - but ultimately, people need to make their own decisions."

That line, between personal responsibility and the role of government oversight, is on the minds of many in a year in which six people have died in the rivers and waterfalls of Yosemite. Record high snowpack and raging runoff have filled Northern California waterways to the brim and created unusually dangerous river conditions well into the summer.

Tuesday's deaths

The latest deaths occurred Tuesday, when three Central Valley residents were swept over Vernal Fall as dozens of other visitors watched in horror. The three, Ramina Badal, 21, Ninos Yacoub, 27, and Hormiz David, 22, had scaled or gone around a metal guardrail upstream of the waterfall to stand in knee-high water.

After taking photos of each other and horsing around in the water, Badal slipped, setting off a chain reaction in which all three were pulled over the 317-foot-high fall and into the churning, boulder-strewn Merced River below. Search teams on Thursday walked the riverbank from the falls to a footbridge about a mile downstream. So far, no bodies have been recovered.

The three hikers apparently missed or ignored warning signs that show a stick figure tumbling over the edge of the waterfall as well as a widely available booklet that advises visitors "never to swim or wade upstream of a waterfall, even if the water appears shallow or calm."

No park rangers witnessed the accident, which occurred at the top of the Mist Trail, a steep trek traversed by some 2,000 people each summer day. If rangers had been there, Gediman said, they would have told the three to get out of the water immediately.

Although federal codes authorize rangers to issue tickets and fines to visitors for disobeying warning signs or putting themselves or others at risk - violations likely classified as disorderly conduct - few such citations are actually issued, Gediman said. Thursday's sunny weather, for instance, drew dozens of people to swim in various pools around the park designated as non-swimming. Rangers in the field probably warned visitors of the potential dangers, Gediman said, but none were likely pulled from the water or issued a ticket.

Huge area involved

For one, it is difficult to regularly patrol all 750 miles of Yosemite's trails. Second, Gediman said, handing reams of tickets would create a police state atmosphere and detract from the wilderness experience.

"As we become a more urbanized society and people become less connected to the outdoors, places like Yosemite become more important places where people can be immersed in nature," Gediman said.

Citations for public nudity, fist fights, drunkenness and even road rage aren't unheard of. More often, though, park police charge people with harming the natural environment by setting off fireworks, poaching wild animals, camping illegally, cutting trees and disturbing archaeological sites. Because the park has its own jail and federal courthouse, those violations can result in overnight incarceration in the park, mandatory court appearances and fines that run into hundreds of dollars.

Whether or not park authorities continue to allow visitors to wander beyond marked trails, Orange County resident Jake Bibee, who witnessed Tuesday's incident, believes blame ultimately rests on the shoulders of those who clambered beyond the barrier.

"When you come up here, if the sign says you are going to die if you go into the water, respect the signs," Bibee said.

 

[Old Gimlet Eyes]

Yosemite Rangers are really cool. I left beer out of my bear box one night inside an ice chest. They were kind enough to put the beer into my bear box, and right me a nice warning note asking me to not do that again please. Pretty sure they could have fined me for that.

 

[DonasaurusRex]

When I went to the Grand Canyon some idiot went beyond the barrier in order to take a photo (as if getting that much closer is going to make any bloody difference) and he fell off the edge. Miraculously he survived but I don't know what shape he was in after - presumably not good. I guess he landed on a ledge or something. Still, what a fool.

omg i thought that kind of stuff is something everyone is wary about so...it never happens. You always think about falling off of a high place but never imagine you'll actually see it that must've been crazy.

 

[GraveRobberX]

I know I might get the Really? response, but aren't there safety line or nets near falls?

I remember reading that some of the places people like to "Adventure" w/o precautions, they set up countless lines you can grab onto and/or safety nets

Could they set them up @ this place?, I mean I know the "lesson learned" subject has come and gone, but history repeats itself, so why not try to be prepared for it?

 

[xbhaskarx]

I know I might get the Really? response, but aren't there safety line or nets near falls?

Really?
It's a national park, not an amusement park.
As in nature, wilderness, etc.

 

[Rodney McKay]

I know I might get the Really? response, but aren't there safety line or nets near falls?

I remember reading that some of the places people like to "Adventure" w/o precautions, they set up countless lines you can grab onto and/or safety nets

Could they set them up @ this place?, I mean I know the "lesson learned" subject has come and gone, but history repeats itself, so why not try to be prepared for it?

Why don't they just dam up the whole river so there isn't a waterfall anymore.

That way no one would get hurt.

 

[GraveRobberX]

I sense the sarcasm, but I'm just suggesting can anything be done more to prevent this from happening again

The line "Stupid is as Stupid does" rings true

 

[Cat Party]

I sense the sarcasm, but I'm just suggesting can anything be done more to prevent this from happening again

The line "Stupid is as Stupid does" rings true

I really don't see how it can be anymore safe without compromising the point of having a national park, especially one like Yosemite.

 

[NathanMcMahon]

That sucks to have seen that. Some scarring shit. Sort of related. Did anyone ever watch that video of the skydiver who was falling and should have died but survived? The absolute horror of hearing him realizing his death was coming is something that I've never been able to get over. I can only imagine seeing that look in someone's eyes is all sorts of horrific and traumatizing.

 

[Devolution]

I know I might get the Really? response, but aren't there safety line or nets near falls?

I remember reading that some of the places people like to "Adventure" w/o precautions, they set up countless lines you can grab onto and/or safety nets

Could they set them up @ this place?, I mean I know the "lesson learned" subject has come and gone, but history repeats itself, so why not try to be prepared for it?

This isn't a theme park, it's fucking nature. Real world shit. If people don't realize that getting into streaming water within 50 feet of a waterfall is a bad idea, no amount of signage or barriers will save them from their own stupidity.

Millions of people visit Yosemite every year, a couple people being dipshits shouldn't be enough to mar the beauty with nets. Good luck getting a great picture of vernal with a net in the way too.

 

[evangd007]

I sense the sarcasm, but I'm just suggesting can anything be done more to prevent this from happening again

The line "Stupid is as Stupid does" rings true

Post the number of people who've died due to being swept away and the number of days since it last happened. Maybe then the threat will be real to those people. They probably assume that the signs are for posterity and that people dying "never happens."

 

[Devolution]

Post the number of people who've died due to being swept away and the number of days since it last happened. Maybe then the threat will be real to those people. They probably assume that the signs are for posterity and that people dying "never happens."

They actually have something like this at the foot of some of the hikes. The people who do this kind of shit are probably the same type of people that ignore signs or honestly don't think the signs apply to them.

 

[xxracerxx]

I know I might get the Really? response, but aren't there safety line or nets near falls?

I remember reading that some of the places people like to "Adventure" w/o precautions, they set up countless lines you can grab onto and/or safety nets

Could they set them up @ this place?, I mean I know the "lesson learned" subject has come and gone, but history repeats itself, so why not try to be prepared for it?

What the fuck at even thinking this is a viable option.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

Oops, wrong thread.

 

[TheSeks]

Don't go chasing waterfalls.

:lol Please stick to the warning signs that you're used to?

I know I might get the Really? response, but aren't there safety line or nets near falls?

Really?

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

Dammit all I can think of is:

"It's not really a briiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiidge!"

 

[IcyBlueStrawberry]

They were being reckless in the first place and the guidelines and rules exist for a reason, but that's still a harsh punishment. It would really have sucked to be the friend who tried to grab the falling girl. He knew exactly what was going to happen, and I can imagine how seeing that look on his face would have an impact on the group of people in the surrounding area.

This reminded me that there was something similar that happened in Indore, India recently. Family crossing what I assume was a river basin, then got stuck as a flash flood swept them over a cliff (now a waterfall).

Bewarned, there is a Youtube Video of this.

 

[Salazar]

That Indian vid is utterly mortifying. It so rapidly got to the stage where anybody who tried to help would be in the same lethal predicament.

 

[CrunchyFrog]

Tragic, but fucking stupid.