Cliff collapse leaves 1 dead Pt Reyes … got me thinking about other cliffs

A real tragedy, but an avoidable one. Life lesson: Don't ignore warning signs.

Dude, this is not the time for meme photos about stupidity. A person died, let's try to be respectful.

My guess is that the Park service will ultimately be found liable. The trail should have been completely closed. I live a few minutes drive from the southern most trailhead, frequently hike and run in the Pt. Reyes National Seashore, and have seen trail closures for far less.

http://www.marinij.com/general-news/20150323/after-fatal-cliff-plunge-in-west-marin-national-park-service-defends-its-warning-efforts

This is an extremely popular hiking trail which sees heavy year round usage. Had they completely closed the trail, and the hiker crossed a physical barrier it would be a different story.

They posted warning signs at the trailhead and just before where it collapsed

I wonder what the warning sign said vs completely closing the trail?

Here on Mt Hood, they left the gate across the Sandy closed, because someone was killed on a footbridge up the road/trail a few miles. The authorities are in a difficult position, if they're too careful then people won't be able to use completely safe areas and complain, vs if they're not so careful, then if something bad happens, people will complain they didn't close it.

"before" picture from January from the other side:

Landslides are a hazard and deserve caution. It was just a year ago that the landslide at Oso, Washington took out a whole neighborhood. I've driven up and down that road many times.

Western Washington is a post-glacial landscape with many layers of clay an gravel waiting to slide into Puget Sound and local rivers. Logging, road building and construction add the natural erosion. Trailhead access roads and trails are closed do to slides every year, especially during winter storms.

Trees come down in the same sliding saturated soil condtions. I recallvthe recent story of the hiker on the AT killed by a falling tree. I'm always amazed at the bizarre timing of such events: "there but for the grace of God go I."

I've been on beach trails blocked by slides where 85-100 foot bluffs are common and it really made me think. A couple years ago I was at Fort Warden State Park in Port Townsend, Washington and found myself standing on a trampoline of sod with an 80' drop to the beach. The bluff had given way leaving the sod behind. There were no fences or warning signs and I emailed the park manager, cc'ing the local TV station. There was a fence well back from the bluff edge with warnings signs be the end of the next day.

The first thing you learn in Physical Geology 101 is that there is no such thing as "solid ground."

" The first thing you learn in Physical Geology 101 is that there is no such thing as "solid ground." "

Absolutely, especially at Point Reyes. Back during the Big One of 1906, some gigantic fault displacements happened there.

–B.G.–

Some years ago a lady using an NPS campsite at Keet Seel ruin in Navajo Nat'l Mon died from a minor rockfall, coming from very high up. Returning in my vehicle tracks at Canyon de Chelly, I have encountered newly fallen rocks with dust still in the air.

There is always the story of Threatening Rock at Chaco Canyon. According to Navajo legend, its fall meant the end of the world. It did collapse in December, 1941 – not at all far off, and damaged Pueblo Bonito.

Rock fall and cliff collapse are routine along sea coasts. The cliffs near Santa Barbara retreat at an average rate of six inches per year.

Washaway Beach at Cape Shoalwater, Washington is a famous of erosion— and what messing with Mother Nature can do.

http://coastalcare.org/2013/10/washaway-beach-cape-shoalwater/