Did Reckless Hiking Lead to Tragic Deaths at Vernal Falls?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the tragic deaths of individuals at Vernal Falls, exploring the circumstances leading to the incident, the actions of the victims, and the implications of safety warnings in outdoor settings. The scope includes a mix of emotional reactions, safety concerns, and reflections on human behavior in risky situations.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express sadness for the families involved while questioning the decision-making of the victims, particularly regarding safety warnings and barricades.
  • There are observations about the behavior of other hikers who attempted to intervene, indicating a sense of community concern for safety.
  • One participant recounts the sequence of events leading to the accident, suggesting that the actions of the victims were reckless, particularly in crossing barriers and standing on slick rocks above a waterfall.
  • Another participant highlights the increasing number of water-related fatalities in Yosemite, implying a broader issue of safety awareness among visitors.
  • There is a mention of a specific incident where one victim attempted to save another, which raises questions about the dynamics of risk-taking in emergency situations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express concern over the actions of the victims and the implications of safety warnings, but there is no consensus on the motivations or the extent of blame for the incident. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the balance between personal responsibility and environmental safety measures.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of detailed information about the victims' prior knowledge of the risks, the specific conditions of the river at the time, and the effectiveness of the safety signage present at the site.

Borg
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Yesterday, http://news.yahoo.com/authorities-3-swept-over-waterfall-presumed-dead-180056413.html" when they were washed over Vernal Falls. My first reaction was sadness for the families but, after reading the story of how this happened, I have to wonder how blatently stupid some people can be.

A sign in English warns visitors not to cross the barricade or swim in the waters above the falls. Bibee said other hikers had shouted that it wasn't safe to go into the rushing river.

Bibee said other members of the victims' group also had been on the wrong side of the barricade when he reached the top of the Mist Trail. One man, he said, was posing near the waterfall with a screaming young girl in his arms while a teenage girl snapped photographs.

"People became unglued on this guy," Bibee said. "They said, 'You know what man, get your *** back over here.'"

As that man walked back, Bibee said, the doomed couple made their way to the rock.

A man believed to be David crossed a metal barricade with Badal above the falls to make their way over slick granite to a rock in the middle of the swift Merced River.

Standing on a slick rock in the middle of a racing river above a 300 foot drop? Really?!? :rolleyes:
 
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yahoo.com said:
The tragedy brings to six the number of people killed in water accidents in Yosemite this year.
Worse than cell phones if you ask me.
 
I.N.S.

Rhody... :rolleyes:
 
According to the Yahoo article:
Badal, Homiz David, 22, of Modesto, and Ninos Yacoub, 27, of Turlock were swept to their deaths.

A man believed to be David crossed a metal barricade with Badal above the falls to make their way over slick granite to a rock in the middle of the swift Merced River.

Badal slipped and David reached in for her and fell in. Yacoub had been trying to take their photo, friends said, and he slipped in when he tried to save them.

. . .
It appears that Yacoub tried to save his friend, but certainly the girl and her friend made a fatal mistake in going onto the slippery rocks in the river.

It would be bad enough if there was a pool of water at the bottom, but at the bottom of the falls are rocks.