As we transition out of the big trees and big rocks portion of our trip (millions of photos, coming soon, promise!), one somber note from the trail. The High Sierras saw a record snowpack this year, so rivers and creeks that are sometimes dry by this time of year were still raging far outside their banks. Last week, three young hikers were swept over this waterfall, Vernal Fall, in Yosemite, when they stepped over this fence, slipped, and fell in.
The tragic story comes with more disheartening news today that the families have hired a “consultant” who is going to lobby the park to construct better barriers to prevent people from going into the water. This feels like it’s one step away from suing the park, and it’s a ridiculous and wasteful effort. Just looking at the barrier, I think it’s painfully obvious that they don’t want you to go over it.
It’s a point that the park has made that explicitly clear, this year more than ever.
As we hiked to the top of the falls, along the Mist Trail, the flyers of the three missing hikers were posted at every sign along the way. A “no swimming” icon could be found posted at most usually-docile swimming holes. Throughout both Yosemite and Sequoia, in fact, we saw new and quite disturbing signs that warned of a “Deadly River/Rio Mortal,” with one ghostly hand reaching out from the dark foaming water. Even me, an enthusiastic river swimmer who loves riding a good current, steered clear of all moving water. It just wasn’t worth it.
But what we quickly realized is what happens with these families and a new barrier doesn’t really matter—based on what we witnessed this week in the park, no matter what the park chooses to construct, people always find a way over. It was pretty shocking to see, and it happened almost everywhere we went. We’d stand there in awe at the top of a waterfall, marveling at this relentless pile driver of nature. Then would watch in horror as people around us climbed over, around, through the barriers and made their way closer to the churning water.
This is a design challenge if I’ve ever seen one. It reminds me a bit of the battle to erect a barrier on the Golden Gate Bridge, although that is for far more sobering reasons. But it’s the same idea: How can we better communicate to people the danger and consequences of their actions—without ruining the experience for others? Signage is obviously not cutting it. But will a monstrous barrier even help? Maybe this sad event can help lead the way towards some smarter solutions that might be able to save some lives, but I have a feeling that the ones who want to ignore them will still find a way.
