2011 Darwin Award Nominations

[baseline bum]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/21/MN0H1KCRAP.DTL&ao=2

Yosemite: 3 presumed dead, swept over Vernal Fall

Yosemite National Park --

One slip in knee-high water, a desperate grab for help and, in one frightful moment, three Central Valley residents were swept screaming over a thunderous 317-foot waterfall to their apparent deaths as dozens of tourists in Yosemite National Park watched in horror.

...

The spectacle infuriated Bibee and several other hikers, some of whom yelled at the man and urged him to climb back over the railing. Meanwhile, apparently inspired by their friend, Badal, Yacoub and David climbed over or went around the railing and waded into the water 25 feet upstream from the fall, trying to reach a rock outcropping partially covered in vegetation about 15 feet from shore.

Gediman said the three waded up to their knees in the rushing waters, were taking photographs and goofing around. He said several witnesses also urged them to get out of the water.


This has got to be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard anyone do in the park. I have done this hike a few times, and this time of year with the snowpack as it was this winter, going off the trail and getting into the water is instant suicide. Hell, any time other than the very late fall before any of the winter snow hits the high country it's still pretty much a death wish. But July?

How could anyone look at this and think it's a good idea to get in a raging river 25 feet from the edge of a 317 foot waterfall?

-909B_kTsNs
No, this isn't video of the tragedy

Anyone who hikes this in the high season when the steps are covered by water blown over as mist from the fall knows how slippery the steps up to it can be; in fact, a UT professor slipped off of them to his death in May. And yet the rocks in and under the actual river would be safe? This is maybe the greatest hike under 3 miles I have ever been on, and man would it piss me off to see the park shut it down in response to people acting like idiots and paying with their lives for it.

[DMC]

alPmPSls-9s

How about this idiot?

[symple19]

lol central valley

[thispego]

that's not funny at all DMC

[baseline bum]

lol central valley

You need to add a disclaimer to scroll down for the rest of your sig.

[DMC]

that's not funny at all DMC
:lmao

[SnakeBoy]

I'll be hiking past there next month. I'll be sure not to go for a swim though.

[baseline bum]

I'll be hiking past there next month. I'll be sure not to go for a swim though.

You doing Half Dome, Merced Lake, or the Panorama Trail? There is a seemingly calm looking area not far from there (Emerald Pool) which people swim in, but that can also be a death trap. Probably not in a normal snow year that late, but this past winter was anything but.

[CubanSucks]

hiking has never sounded interesting to me, but I have always wanted to do the half dome ever since I heard about it


http://scenicwonders.com/wp-content/gallery/main-gallery/yosemite_half_dome19.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/101/268646505_91a33295ab.jpg

[baseline bum]

hiking has never sounded interesting to me, but I have always wanted to do the half dome ever since I heard about it


http://scenicwonders.com/wp-content/gallery/main-gallery/yosemite_half_dome19.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/101/268646505_91a33295ab.jpg

It's an awesome hike, but the view on the summit to left of Half Dome in that first photo (Clouds Rest) is even better.

N5qLVlSzaQ0

Half Dome is definitely more of an adventure though, since you're going up rock at 45-55 degrees on the cable section.

[SnakeBoy]

You doing Half Dome, Merced Lake, or the Panorama Trail? There is a seemingly calm looking area not far from there (Emerald Pool) which people swim in, but that can also be a death trap. Probably not in a normal snow year that late, but this past winter was anything but.

Supposed to do Half Dome but I'm pretty sure my wife is going to chicken out on me so it will probably end up being the Panorama Trail.

Any suggestions for other hikes (we're there for three days). Already did upper Yosemite Falls last time we went there.

[baseline bum]

Supposed to do Half Dome but I'm pretty sure my wife is going to chicken out on me so it will probably end up being the Panorama Trail.

Any suggestions for other hikes (we're there for three days). Already did upper Yosemite Falls last time we went there.

Clouds Rest is my favorite in the park. It's a lot easier than Half Dome, but no picnic at 14 miles and about 2500 feet gain with the up and down factored in and most of the hike above 9000'. It's not for people with fears of heights though, as the summit ridge has a 4000 foot dropoff on one side and a 1500 foot dropoff on the other, and can be as narrow as 6 feet at times (if I remember correctly). Probably not an issue if you're considering going up the 45/55 degree incline of Half Dome though. Great views of Mount Clark, Tenaya Lake, Half Dome, North Dome, and Tenaya Canyon from the summit. The first set of switchbacks has nice views of Mount Hoffman and Tuolumne Peak to the north also.

Here is a view looking north from the beginning of the north end of the summit ridge, with Tenaya Lake, Tenaya Peak (the really pointy one), and Mount Conness (the highpoint) visible:

http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu138/rgfhgdghhfd/100_0916.jpg

Tenaya Canyon is the dropoff to the left above. The next is a summit view with Half Dome, Sentinel Dome, Glacier Point, El Capitan, North Dome, and Tenaya Canyon in view.

http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu138/rgfhgdghhfd/100_0902.jpg

A similar shot going up to the summit
http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu138/rgfhgdghhfd/100_0915.jpg

Half Dome is really tough as a dayhike, but if you're in shape and have good resolve it's doable with an early start. Views of Clouds Rest, North Dome, Mt Starr King, Mt Clark, and Tenaya Canyon from it. Of course there is also Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, and Liberty Cap on the way.

If you don't have a Half Dome permit yet, I believe the park releases about 50 a day the morning before, so maybe bring a laptop and check at the Ahwahnee or somewhere else with wireless internet. I can't remember what time they're released. I want to say 10 or 11 AM, but definitely check with the park first. Sucks to have permits required on a dayhike, but tons of people not comfortable with heights used to do it and freeze on the cables, creating dangerous bottlenecks that have been blamed for some recent deaths there.

No Half Dome pics, since I didn't have a camera the first time and there will be no second time. :lol

The Panorama Trail is incredible and much easier than the other two, at least if you do Glacier Point down to Happy Isles. The view on the side of the ridge you hike down from Glacier Point is spectacular. If you have done Upper Yosemite Falls, this one should be cake. Really nice views of Starr King, and an airplane like view of Vernal and Nevada Fall, as well as the backside of Half Dome after rising up from the Illilouette Creek. Illilouette Fall is pretty awesome, and you see it across on the other side of a narrow canyon a little before getting to the bridge.

My two favorite shots from Panorama (late August in a low snow year):
http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu138/rgfhgdghhfd/100_0797.jpg

http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu138/rgfhgdghhfd/100_0802.jpg

Here's Illilouette from the Panorama Trail; it should be fuller this year though.
http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu138/rgfhgdghhfd/100_0809.jpg

Mount Dana is the highest point in the park you can dayhike to at a little over 13,000 feet, but I can't imagine doing it without staying at Tuolumne Meadows or higher the night before. The pics I have seen of Mono Lake and the Dana Plateau from it are amazing. You can also see Mount Lyell and its glacier from there. I haven't done this one though.

Tenaya Peak (just over Tenaya Lake) is one I have been dying to do since finding out there is a class 2 route to the top, but I didn't know about it last time I went. North Dome and Mount Hoffman are two more interesting hikes to look into.

If you haven't done it, Mariposa Grove is a very easy 7 mile loop. The best view on the trail is Wawona Point, which pales in comparison to the views from HD, Clouds, Columbia Rock, Yosemite Point, Glacier Point and the Panorama Trail, etc, but you can walk inside of two Giant Sequoias in it (the Telescope Tree and Clothespin Tree).

Check this site; it's the best I have seen for on-trail hiking in Yosemite:
http://www.yosemitehikes.com/

[SnakeBoy]

but tons of people not comfortable with heights used to do it and freeze on the cables, creating dangerous bottlenecks that have been blamed for some recent deaths there.


That's why my wife will probably chicken out. Physically she can make the hike up but she's worried she'll freeze up coming down the cables.

Clouds Rest sounds nice but I'll have to show her pics of the summit ridge to see if she thinks she can handle it.

Thanks for the info and the link. The 4-Mile + Panorama Trail Alternative on the site sounds cool.

[DisAsTerBot]

Qps7tG9rnMs

[baseline bum]

That's why my wife will probably chicken out. Physically she can make the hike up but she's worried she'll freeze up coming down the cables.

Clouds Rest sounds nice but I'll have to show her pics of the summit ridge to see if she thinks she can handle it.

Thanks for the info and the link. The 4-Mile + Panorama Trail Alternative on the site sounds cool.

The summit ridge is pretty low angle and one should never need even to use his hands for balance, so it's not too bad for someone not scared of heights. If the ridge ever gets less than a few feet wide, you're off course and should turn around and get back on the main route which never gets any narrower than 5-6 feet and is wider most of the time. That video I posted above shows what I think is the worst part (around that dip).

[baseline bum]

Qps7tG9rnMs

God, that's a horrible video. At least that family got caught in a flash flood there. At Vernal Falls that flood has been going on almost three months.