Almost inevitable ... over Vernal Falls ... again.

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mike bodine

climber

bishop, ca

Jul 20, 2011 - 03:04pm PT

the official press release as of 11 a.m. July 20

yea how come when a climber or sport nut dies they are almost always considered "experienced" but regular joes are called stupid -

Yosemite News Release
July 20, 2011
For Immediate Release

Media Contacts:
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529

Three Visitors Swept Over Vernal Fall in Yosemite National Park
Group of Family and Friends on Day Trip to Yosemite

Three visitors are presumed dead after plunging over Vernal Fall in
Yosemite National Park yesterday afternoon at approximately 1:30 p.m.
Hormiz David, 22 year old male, of Modesto, CA, Ninos Yacoub, 27 year old
male, of Turlock, CA, and Ramina Badal, 21 year old female, of Modesto, CA,
came to the park for a day trip with a group of family and friends.

The group was witnessed entering the water above Vernal Fall, approximately
25 feet from the precipice. Witnesses reported to park officials that
several people urged the group member to step back from the river, since it
was flowing swiftly and extremely cold. The area is signed as a dangerous
area, and the group had crossed a metal guardrail placed there to keep
visitors away from the dangerous fast moving water.

The park is still seeing the effects of a huge winter snowpack and a cool
spring and summer. The Merced River, which feeds the 317 foot Vernal Fall,
is still running at spring conditions with significant water levels
resulting in a swift, dangerous current. The hike up the Mist Trail to
Vernal Fall is one of the most popular hikes in the park, with upwards of
1,500 people per day ascending the trail to the top of Vernal Fall.

Visitors are urged to exercise extreme caution around all water in Yosemite
National Park. Park rivers and streams have been running at higher than
normal levels for this time of year, and will remain high for several
weeks.

There have been six water related deaths in Yosemite National Park this
year, including this incident. Two hikers drowned in the Hetch Hetchy
Reservoir on June 29, 2011, and a hiker slipped and fell into the Merced
River on the Mist Trail on May 13, 2011.

The Mist Trail had been closed since the incident to facilitate Search and
Rescue Operations. The trail has now reopened. Yosemite National Park
Rangers will continue search efforts throughout the day. These efforts
consist primarily of combing each side of the Merced River looking for the
victims.

Over the years, there have been several cases of visitors going over Vernal
Fall, as well as other waterfalls, such as Upper Yosemite Fall.

Fluoride

Trad climber

West Los Angeles, CA

Jul 20, 2011 - 03:09pm PT

Gotta back up Werner's sentiments.

I've seen some really crazy tuoron activity in Yosemite. One in particular stands in my head. It was near the bridge on the hike up to Washington Column. Was hauling loads back there to do the wall and saw a family in the sandbar in the middle of the river and they were totally freaked cause the river had grown a lot since they went to the sandbar (afternoon meltoff). They ended up needing a rescue.

John Moosie

climber

Beautiful California

Jul 20, 2011 - 03:09pm PT

I remember that Wes.

I use to run that trail, and would stop at the top of the falls. If someone had climbed over the railing I would warn them, and then leave because I didn't want to see someone die that way. I always thought it was incredibly stupid, but then figured it was their right. I also never enjoyed watching someone free solo, even on tape when I know the outcome. It just gives me the willies.

I rescued a young woman from the south fork of the merced here in Wawona. She walked up to touch the water, slipped and rode the rapids down. It was spring melt and her friend was yelling that she didn't know how to swim. I jumped in and pulled her out. She broke her leg going through the rapids, and it was touch and go for me to rescue her. The water was high, fast and cold and I barely caught the eddy with her at the end of the swimming hole. It all happened in less then a minute. From her slipping, hearing her friend, deciding to jump in fully clothed, grabbing her and pulling her into the eddy. Lickety split. That fast. If I hadn't been there, or if we missed the eddy, she would have died. I had been sitting there wondering when the river would be low enough to go for a swim.

Majid_S

Mountain climber

Bay Area , California

Jul 20, 2011 - 03:10pm PT

Few months ago while SAR team was busy doing a body recovery below the Vernal fall, I was on top of the fall closing the trail and god knows how many times I had to run down from the gate to the guard rail area to stop people from crossing over it .

dugillian

Trad climber

Vancouver

Jul 20, 2011 - 03:19pm PT

Sadly enough those kids had to see Darwinism in action.

cleo

Social climber

Berkeley, CA

Jul 20, 2011 - 03:33pm PT

John, if you'd missed that eddy, YOU might have died. Panicky swimmers have death grips and can drown rescuers.

Geez, just last week I "rescued" a raft passenger in a fairly benign class III river, and even though I was in a kayak and he had a lift jacket on, he dragged me into the next rapid, backwards, with no speed, death grip on the kayak. Lesson learned!

(I thought we could make it out, and had he been swimming like an experienced river rat - e.g. body up and out of the water and kicking, we'd easily have made it. Instead, he grabbed the side of my kayak, causing me to list to the left, then hung on limply deep in the current, anchoring us and making it difficult to cross eddy lines).

John Moosie

climber

Beautiful California

Jul 20, 2011 - 03:45pm PT

I realize that Cleo. In that spot on the river, there isn't another eddy for quite a ways. I have lifeguard training and have asked myself if I would have ditched her to save myself if we missed that eddy. I don't know. Water and rescues are some strange stuff.

I have saved 3 people from drowning in the South fork of the Merced, been the first on the scene of two drownings and rescued a young boy from ocean surf while his dad and sister drowned. One lady I rescued from the same swimming hole. She did nearly the same thing, but it was lower water and 50 people were swimming at this hole. This lady fell in, didn't know how to swim, went straight to the bottom and was trapped by the current underwater. Even with 50 people hanging out and swimming, her daughter and I were the only ones to see her fall in. Her daughter couldn't swim either and was yelling and yelling, but nobody paid attention because of all the kids screaming and yelling as they played. Even after I dragged her to the surface, I had trouble getting anyone to realize she was in trouble and that I needed help getting her out of the water. Life is strange some times.

jstan

climber

Jul 20, 2011 - 03:52pm PT

Ron:
As I understand it a person on belay drowned while trying to cross the stream above the falls. The rope just pulled him under water.

cliffhanger

Trad climber

California

Jul 20, 2011 - 03:57pm PT

Cleo - A good way to avoid such close contact and still render assistance is to have a tow rope tied to the stern loop of the kayak with the other end locked on in a quick release cam cleat (or clipped on with a biner) behind the cockpit. Then you can just throw them the rope.

Anastasia

climber

hanging from an ice pick and missing my mama.

Jul 20, 2011 - 03:59pm PT

All accidents are tragic and I agree... How many times have we just lucked out on survival? I've done enough stupid things to know it's just random luck that I survived and other's haven't. As for knowing better... I've been hiking in the wilderness since I barely could walk and... I still do stupid ass things. I really can't and shouldn't judge.

I regret their decision for not listening to the signs and taking note to listen to the signs myself. Plus, I feel for their kids. I bet the sight of waterfalls will never be beautiful to them again. Horrible for everyone involved.

Mighty Hiker

climber

Vancouver, B.C.

Jul 20, 2011 - 04:01pm PT

In To Be Brave, the first volume of Royal Robbins' autobiography, he tells of a terrifying crossing of Bridalveil Creek in high water, even with the help of climbing equipment. If he could underestimate the risk, any of us could.

Spider Savage

Mountain climber

SoCal

Jul 20, 2011 - 04:17pm PT

Please don't let them close places like this as "too dangerous."

Mangy Peasant

Social climber

Riverside, CA

Jul 20, 2011 - 04:43pm PT

It is ironic that so many climbers invoke Darwin and use words like "stupid" and/or "touron" when a non-climber dies taking a risk, but refuse to do so when an accomplished climber dies (won't mention names, but the list is well-known.)

Darwin's natural selection doesn't care how many FAs you've done - if your choices lead to your death, you are out of the gene pool.

ß Î Ø T Ç H

Boulder climber

bouldering

Jul 20, 2011 - 04:47pm PT

Bachar used to cite natural selection. Unfortunately, it caught up to him.

Mangy Peasant

Social climber

Riverside, CA

Jul 20, 2011 - 04:56pm PT

Yeah, I know. Anybody who has already has kids that are capable of producing offspring themselves is not technically "out" of the gene pool.

You must be fun at parties.

Anastasia

climber

hanging from an ice pick and missing my mama.

Jul 20, 2011 - 05:03pm PT

How many kids do you have Biotch???

Toker Villain

Big Wall climber

Toquerville, Utah

Jul 20, 2011 - 05:20pm PT

The real problem is a legal system that, as a result of liability considerations, precludes the NPS from posting in absolutely NO subtle terms just how FUKKING DANGEROUS the location is, and exactly up to now how many people who have ignored the warnings have paid for their foolishness with a horrible death.

If they did it would only bite them in the ass in the next civil case.

So the sign says the bare minimum and foolish people who arrogantly ignore it pay the real price for a bloated legal system that rewards lawyers quick to sue the park service for doing just what most tourists want; enabling them to contact nature.

jewedlaw

Trad climber

San Francisco, CA

Jul 20, 2011 - 05:21pm PT

Perhaps NPS should consider posting signs on the guardrails before each falls stating "6 people have died after crossing this rail in the last year." Writing it this way might prove a better deterrent than relying on the public's common sense. Maybe this would help for Half Dome as well.

Edit: Ron--I think you posted while I was typing my message. It is unfortunate, as you say. Perhaps then it is a good thing we have so many internet news-sites to help spread the word. The more people read it and remember it, the fewer will cross the railing. Sadly, by the start of next season, most will have forgotten prior headlines and will not heed any posting. And they will serve as a warning for the rest of the year.