Fatal Accident at Yosemite's Vernal Falls



View of the Giant Staircase at Yosemite National Park.  Vernal Falls is visible in the lower center of the photo, with the mist trail folloing the stream below the falls.

I've been following the story about a church group's outing to hike to the top of Vernal Falls that ended in tragedy all week.  There's a link to a story in the NY Times at the end of the post. 

Apparently, the group, which included parents and kids, climbed the Mist Trail to the top of the falls.  When they got there, three of the adults ignored the guard rail that provides a barrier between some of the viewing areas and the river itself, which this year is running high from a heavy snow melt.  They were posing for photographs, and according to some articles they invited their kids over, before one or more of them lost their footing and were swept over the 317-foot waterfall. 

Here's the Times link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/21/us/21brfs-3HIKERSSWEPT_BRF.html

And a second link to an AP story:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gxLRYVQU7OLlaj6kbYBU2OtEQX_A?docId=c8fe643432cc43d5ad84f360b89fc0f4

It is certainly a tragedy, and it could have been much worse if the kids had gotten over the rail and been part of the accident - as it was, they will have to live with the horrific images of their loved ones being swept away right in front of their eyes.  An interesting background fact appears in the AP story:  there have been six water accident deaths in Yosemite so far this year.  While we don't know all the facts about those deaths, we do know that in the Vernal Falls case, the individuals ignored warning signs and also the verbal warnings of other hikers at the top of the falls.

The story reminded me of the time I was at the top of the falls, in September 2005, when Chris and I climbed the Half Dome - the Mist Trail and the falls is on the route.  As we climbed the granite stairs on the Mist Trail, and then at the top of the falls, there were a number of emergency workers around, and several areas were marked off with police tape.  Apparently, there had been another case of someone being swept away in July 2005, and the water levels had finally receded enough that the body could be removed from the pool at the base of the falls.

The AP is reporting that this is likely the case here, these bodies may not be recovered until later in the year.  In fact, they haven't even been discovered yet.

My takeaway from all this?  I know it's a tragedy, and I know there are families who are hurting after this event.  But warning signs like those at the top of Vernal Falls - and like so many of them at Shenandoah National Park, as well - must be observed.  Don't overestimate your abilities at these natural sites, no matter how envigorating you find the experience of being there.  And the popularity, and crowds, at many of these locations only make the risks of breaking the rules more dangerous.  So respect the warnings.