**Update 07-22-2011: The three hikers killed in this accident were between the ages of 20-28. While witness accounts vary slightly, the three were of a group of 20-plus. One parent within the group was taking “daredevil” photographs with his children, across the guardrails, as many hikers plead for him to stop. At that point, two young individuals in the group–a man and woman–waded into the pool 25-30 upstream of the falls, before slipping, clinging to one another and going over the edge. The third man chased after, trying to help, and also fell to his death. Most likely, search and rescue divers won’t be able to search the pool below until this fall, after 2011’s record snowfalls have dissipated.
Three hikers are presumed dead after going over the 317 foot Vernal Fall on Tuesday in Yosemite National Park. The incredibly popular waterfall is at the summit of the Mist Trail, and is frequented by thousands of under-qualified tourists and qualified enthusiasts on an annual basis.
The top of the fall is wet rock and boulders covered by fast moving shallows before reaching the cliff face.
The water is separated from the summit area with guardrails and signs posted in multiple languages about the dangers of the flowing water. Still, annually, someone takes the plunge–or at least it seems that way.
Due to the extreme, record snowfall in 2010-2011, the melt-off has created for some spectacular waterfalls. Some water flow even created impassible roads early in the spring. People are simply flocking to the national park to witness what is being considered uniquely beautiful and powerful.
A search and rescue team dispatched from Fresno moved toward Yosemite to attempt to recover a body or bodies after yesterday’s accident. At this point, the stories are mixed from people who were near when the individual or individuals went over the falls.
According to witnesses, a man and woman crossed the guardrail barrier to dip their feet into the water. They were actually encouraging their children to join them when they began to slip on the wet rocks. Apparently, a third member of their party jumped over the guardrail in an effort to assist them, and all three went over the fall.
It seems people often ignore their best instinct when visiting places like this–as if they expect a shoulder harness and lap belt to be included in their adventure. Rarely do Man Vs. Nature stories end happily in such circumstances–the total now potentially reaches 11 victims at Yosemite in 2011 due to accidental slips, miscalculations and sheer ignorance and lack of respect for their surroundings.
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