Explore Norwegian Wild Nature - But Respect Its Fences!

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Norway's wild nature features steep mountains and deep chasms, prompting the installation of safety fences at dangerous sites. Despite these precautions, some parents risk their children's safety for picturesque photos, as illustrated by a recent incident where a child was seen crawling in fear near a precipice. This behavior is not isolated; a 61-year-old woman fell to her death while trying to capture a better angle at Vøring Waterfall, highlighting the dangers of reckless actions in such environments. The discussion emphasizes the need for awareness and responsibility when visiting natural attractions, as rescue teams often face perilous situations while responding to accidents caused by tourists ignoring safety measures. The thread also touches on the responsibilities of bystanders to intervene in dangerous situations, especially when children are involved.
arildno
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Yes, Norway HAS a wild nature, with steep mountains and deep chasms.

There's a REASON why we have put up fences on these sites, because OUTSIDE of those fences, the surface can be both slippery and porous.

Some parents, though, take THEIR OWN CHILDREN outside of those fences, in order to get "magnificent" photos of wild, Norwegian nature.

The first photo was from a shocked observer that says that on another picture, the child was crawling on all fours, obviously terrified at being exposed like this.
That 4-or 5-year old had more sense than its idiot mother, sitting dangling with her legs at the precipice. (It is 300 meters straight down!)

The other photo, further down in the article, is from the Vøring Waterfall, where just one day earlier than the incident mentioned above, a 61-yar old German women fell down, because she sought a better photo angle.

Can't say I'm sorry for her, although I am sorry for the grief she caused to her friends&relatives.

http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=10086802
 
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The woman that put her child outside the fence should be arrested for child endangerment. What an idiot!
 
Every few years, some bone-heads decide to swim in the pools at the top of Moxie Falls, and someone gets swept over. Or they decide that they have to get right on the edge of the falls for a better view and lose their footing on the wet rocks. The result is never pretty.

thefalls-1.jpg
 
We also had, a few years ago, on the rough northwestern coastal part of Norway a tragic accident of a tourist due to extreme stupidity on his part:

He was so enthused about the truly hellish storms of wind, rain and large waves that afflicts this region in the autumn that he..

Decided to hold himself fast on a long pier (molo?) in the fjord in order to experience the true wildness of Norway even better.

His grip slipped, of course, when a big wave hit him, we haven't found him yet...
 
I only have one thing to say, INS.

Rhody... seeeshhh. What a way to thin the gene pool, maybe in a sad way it is a good thing.
 
rhody said:
I only have one thing to say, INS.

Rhody... seeeshhh. What a way to thin the gene pool, maybe in a sad way it is a good thing.
If you come for a visit, we'll hike to the falls for a visit, Rhody. Even at low water, the fall is pretty foamy. If you look at the photo, you can infer that the water hits ledge, rubble, and rocks over and over all the way down - just like the idiots that want to cool off in the pool near the top.

Then our volunteer rescue squads, wardens, etc, have to risk life and limb to climb down that steep gorge, pick up the pieces, and try to get them out for their funerals.
 
arildno said:
Yes, Norway HAS a wild nature, with steep mountains and deep chasms.

There's a REASON why we have put up fences on these sites, because OUTSIDE of those fences, the surface can be both slippery and porous.

Some parents, though, take THEIR OWN CHILDREN outside of those fences, in order to get "magnificent" photos of wild, Norwegian nature.

The first photo was from a shocked observer that says that on another picture, the child was crawling on all fours, obviously terrified at being exposed like this.
That 4-or 5-year old had more sense than its idiot mother, sitting dangling with her legs at the precipice. (It is 300 meters straight down!)

The other photo, further down in the article, is from the Vøring Waterfall, where just one day earlier than the incident mentioned above, a 61-yar old German women fell down, because she sought a better photo angle.

Can't say I'm sorry for her, although I am sorry for the grief she caused to her friends&relatives.

http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=10086802
The water coming out of the rocks is a nice touch. I'm surprised they weren't walking on it. I didn't understand anything from the article but this word jumped out at me right away - stupet! Does it mean what I think it does? If so, I agree.

BTW, when my wife and I visited the Grand Canyon there were signs all over the place telling of peoples deaths, etc. Didn't stop the dummies though. :rolleyes:
 
Borg said:
BTW, when my wife and I visited the Grand Canyon there were signs all over the place telling of peoples deaths, etc. Didn't stop the dummies though. :rolleyes:
Seriously crumbly sedimentary rocks out there! At least Maine has sensible igneous and metamorphic rocks that tend to hold together.
 
Borg said:
The water coming out of the rocks is a nice touch. I'm surprised they weren't walking on it. I didn't understand anything from the article but this word jumped out at me right away - stupet! Does it mean what I think it does? If so, I agree.
It is the determinate form of "precipice", i.e, "the precipice".

"A precipice" is "et stup".

We also have the verb "å stupe", meaning "falling, typically with the head first".

As in being "stup full" ("dead drunk"), and how a "stup full" guy usually ends up on the ground.
 
  • #10
The thing I don't get about arildno's original post is that it doesn't look like she is getting a better view from that spot. Seems extra stupid.
 
  • #11
FYI.

http://azdailysun.com/news/article_cc3ae92c-861e-5750-96fd-2a7d84cec546.html" .

I hiked the Canyon, back in the 80's 35 miles of it from the south rim to the north rim, over 4 days in May, in the 90's beautiful beyond words, especially at dusk and dawn, and there were no "suicide wrecked cars" to view on the hike. Now, it seems like every month or two some depressed soul decides the movie "Thelma and Louise" is a great way to end it all. It would be curious to see if the rates in the parks with cars going over a cliff rose after this movie.

turbo-1 said:
If you come for a visit, we'll hike to the falls for a visit, Rhody. Even at low water, the fall is pretty foamy. If you look at the photo, you can infer that the water hits ledge, rubble, and rocks over and over all the way down - just like the idiots that want to cool off in the pool near the top.

Then our volunteer rescue squads, wardens, etc, have to risk life and limb to climb down that steep gorge, pick up the pieces, and try to get them out for their funerals.

Turbo,

Those falls remind me of ones that I had near my house, on a smaller scale, that I hiked all the time as a kid. So your falls will be a welcome visit, thanks, we will do that this summer some time.

Rhody... :smile:
 
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  • #12
First of all, how do they now that they were tourists (I assume they mean e.g. German tourists as oppose to a Norwegian family that was "på tur"?

Secondly, I don't get why the fireman who took the photo decided not to say anything.
I could sort of have seen his point if only adults were involved, but as soon as you see someone doing something as stupid like that with a kid EVERYONE has an obligation to at least say something (and if that does not work call the police).
 
  • #13
The woman isn't even watching the child, she's in her own little world, oblivious to anything the child is doing. If that child had slipped, it would have been over the edge before she knew what was happening.
 
  • #14
f95toli said:
First of all, how do they now that they were tourists (I assume they mean e.g. German tourists as oppose to a Norwegian family that was "på tur"?
He knew them, and had been "on trip" ("på tur") with them.
What THAT means, in the mountain-walking subculture, is typically the following:
You have spent the previous night at the same tourist cabin.
In the morning, you chat up during breakfast, compare day plans, and see that you can join company until your intended paths diverge.
There are MANY such paths to take.
Secondly, I don't get why the fireman who took the photo decided not to say anything.
I could sort of have seen his point if only adults were involved, but as soon as you see someone doing something as stupid like that with a kid EVERYONE has an obligation to at least say something (and if that does not work call the police).
1. He looks to have been close to them, doesn't he?
The pont is that even if the straight-line air distance is short, the number of crevasses between the two groups might mean several hours of actual walking distance between them.
2. Should he have hollered a warning when he saw them outside the fence?
Would you do that, risking to startle a 5-year old in that dangerous situation?
 
  • #15
arildno said:
He knew them, and had been "on trip" ("på tur") with them.

OK, it did not say that in the article (it says he was on a trip with his own family in the same area).

1. He looks to have been close to them, doesn't he?
The pont is that even if the straight-line air distance is short, the number of crevasses between the two groups might mean several hours of actual walking distance between them.
2. Should he have hollered a warning when he saw them outside the fence?
Would you do that, risking to startle a 5-year old in that dangerous situation?

[/quote]

Again, this is not what it says in the article
- Jeg følte ikke at det var min sak,
 

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