Fatal Yosemite Falls Fallout: Who Should Be Responsible for Your Safety?

A hiker looks at a safety sign and map where a flyer with photos of the missing hikers is posted at Vernal Falls in Yosemite National Park, Calif. on July 26, 2011. The three young tourists who were swept over a 317-foot waterfall in Yosemite National Park serve as a reminder of the deadly and alluring beauty of the raging rivers and streams across the West after a record winter snowfall. (AP Photo/The Modesto Bee, Patty Guerra)

A Los Angeles Times opinion piece published today puts for the query: "Should visitors have to sign a liability waiver before entering [Yosemite National Park]?"

The question comes just a few days after three hikers fell to their deaths after stepping past a barrier at a waterfall in the park.

Last week, the families of those three hikers "hired a consultant to assess whether safety measures were adequate," reports L.A. Now. The park has posted signs indicating the danger of crossing the metal barriers, but some believe that is not enough of a deterrent.

In a recent post called "Clear and present danger," local blogger Alissa Walker wrote that the signs in the park are a "design challenge," and the problem of putting such warnings in such a beautiful and natural space. Signs may be--and are already proving--to be of no consequence to some. Walker, having traveled to the park recently herself, observes:

But what we quickly realized is what happens with [the families who have hired a consultant] 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.

The L.A. Times, however, is wondering not if there should be more signs, but if signing something would be the deterrent. "Have we reached the point where visitors should sign a liability waiver?" they ask.

Meanwhile, Walker wonders: "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?"

It seems the two approaches here put the onus on different parties, which make us wonder: When it comes to putting yourself in a dangerous situation, who is accountable for your safety: You or the location?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@laist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Lindsay William-Ross in News on August 2, 2011 3:40 PM

Comments [rss]

hN9S9

That fence is obviously too short. Its a lawsuit waiting to happen. What if a tiger were to jump over that and maul you to death?

Alison Inconstanti

yeah, or bigfoot!

LAtimes12

Nice shot of the hiker 'reading the sign'...yeah, that's what the photographer was focused on...

Patti LaRue

"When it comes to putting yourself in a dangerous situation, who is accountable for your safety: You or the location?"

If you even need to ask, you don't have business being there.

jennix

I find it appalling that people need signs to tell them not to do stupid shit. The world is a dangerous place where you can die at any moment. Get used to it. Be careful. Take responsibility for yourself.

jrb

"I find it appalling that people need signs to tell them not to do stupid shit."

That would be an excellent sign: "Don't do stupid shit!"

katenonymous

We as a society are completely unused to how strong the forces of nature are, and this is another tragic example. I've certainly made dumb choices about going past warning signs, and thankfully my consequences have been minor. But look at the guy who got swept into the blowhole in Hawaii recently--I always see fences and warning signs at those spots, and I also always see people who have gone past them.

Kubilay Uner

Absolutely disgusting that the families "hired a consultant to assess whether safety measures were adequate." If anything, the opposite is true - signs should be removed, and with them the depraved illusion that our whole planet is (or should be) one big, well-organized amusement park. The notion of the families possibly suing the federal park system for their children's bad luck/negligence/stupidity is, I say it again, absolutely disgusting.

Mark Fitzsimmons

Remove the barriers. There are too many people already. If someone wants to deter others, put a solar powered video showing someone being swept to their death, but remove the barriers.

Henry__Chinaski

Climbing.... In the rain?

Darwin wins.

The Ugly American

The brochure handed out at all the entrance gates is technically a waiver it clearly state that persons are at their own risk upon entering the park.

The one for Half Dome specifically states that you shouldn't begin ascent if there is any chance of rain.

They could always go one step further and hand out additional flyers but it'd simply be a waste of money.

IckyMouse

We live in a blue state - personal responsibility is NOT popular here. Everyone's knee-jerk reaction to situations like this is to ask government to step in, create more laws, etc.

jrb

I love you conservo-nuts talking about personal responsibility.

You just about tanked the economy by blackmailing the President and refusing to raise the debt ceiling until you got your way. You want cuts in Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security and NO cuts to the military and the two useless wars we are stuck in. All this so the super rich can keep their tax cuts.

Question; How's that trickle down economics working for us all? We've had these Bush era tax cuts for 10 years now. If anything were going to trickle down it would have by now. Make the wealthy pay their fair share and stop screwing the middle class and the poor!!

Andrew Jackson

Wwhatever happened to personal responsibility?? It is YOUR
responsibility to not step over clearly placed barriers. I'm not saying
the people who did so and lost their lives are idiots (it is very sad
that they lost their lives that way) but I am saying that they were
responsible for not putting themselves in that kind of danger. there's a
reason i don't get too close to natural wonders. So tired of the litigious society. so tired of blaiming others for the choices WE make.