[pct-l] Hikers over Yosemite Falls

[James A. Streeter]

The three day hikers that went over Vernal Fall were part of a church
youth group of 12 from small nearby community. They had hiked the 1.5
mile mist trail to the falls. There were many witnesses 

Several of the church members had gone around the guardrails and into
the
water ignoring many people that said to "get out of there. That's not
safe"
One person slipped into the Merced River and the other two reaching
also tumbled in. It was no more than 5 or 6 seconds of them bobbing
in the water before they went over Vernal Fall, plunging 300 feet to
their deaths.

This makes a total of 6 people have died in water related deaths this
year in Yosemite National Park.  Sign warning of the danger of swift
waters have been
ignored.  At least 14 others have gone over Vernal Falls since the
park begain keeping records in 1924 - the last being in 2005 - his
body was not found.

What happened to the 14: Stumbled and fell, lost footing in the
river, slipped trying to retrieve his canteen, lost trying to rescue
prior, 2 unknown reason, playing solo near the lip of the falls age
7, mother and daughter went into the river for photo's, went swimming
175 feet above fall and caught in the current, climbed over the
railing to fill canteen and slipped, possibel suiside, climbed over
the railing and slipped trying to take a photo over the lip, and
climbed over the railing and slipped while trying to wash his face.

Info from the Fresno Bee

YosemiteJames
Yosemite-Sierra Foothills