Death in the National Parks

Yet another reason to avoid national parks (jk). The numbers came out to an average of 2 deaths per park per year, although I’m sure they were not evenly distributed.

Death by falling is very common in RMNP, often on Long’s Peak. One incident occurred already this season. To be fair, death by falling is common across Colorado. It seems like every week throughout the summer, a hiker is reported missing, and it’s almost always a fall. Again and again it’s the same story, bad weather came in, the hiker went off route and tried to continue across sketchy terrain.

The falls surprise me. I’ve definitely been on so scary exposed placed but you’d think normally self preservation would kick in an people wouldn’t push their luck.

I’ve been at the top of a cliff before and taken a picture.  Moved around a little to get a better picture.  Almost stepped off cliff.

Muscle memory – I don’t do that anymore?

We just returned from Ireland, where we did a trip to the Cliffs of Moher. Despite the many warning signs, barriers, and a recent death by selfie, people walked right up to the wet grassy edge of the cliffs, beyond any barriers or dirt paths, atop 500 feet of cliff, and did their selfies. Even old people so it’s not a generational thing. The Cliffs are well marked and paths are well back from the edge, so there’s no excuse. You cannot see the edge from the top; the grass goes right to it. And yet, people do it constantly. Most don’t fall, thankfully. But it sure gave me anxiety watching.

This article supported why I dislike national parks. Ever since I read Missing 411, I don’t set foot in a national park. It seems like you can disappear and the government declares you gone without a trace. They just give up, and for me, that is wild

Sounds wild.
Two shot and killed at Lake Pueblo State Park a couple days ago. A drowning off the same beach a couple weeks ago. Summers here.

Over The Edge: Death in Grand Canyon.  It is a bit morbid but still a fun easy read.  I won’t be a spoiler, but falls are not the most common cause of death.

The Marufo Vega Trail in Big Bend seems to be taking 2 or 3 lives every year.  Dehydration and Heat related cardiac arrest.    Why some folks would try to hike it when it 119F/48C is something I simply don’t understand.

nm

I love what you just proposed here, and I can back you up. It’s a pretty good read

While you’re at the library pick up:    Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why