Almost 900 deaths in 156 years: Why accidents in Yosemite Park, one of the most famous national parks in the United States.
The last crash is barely one year old: On 23 October 2006 was the famous free climber Todd Skinner on the road near the famous Bridalveil Falls. Hundreds of meters, the water plunges into the depths – and it looks from afar like a bridal veil. Skinner, a professional in the scene with a record of 300 extreme climbing tours in 26 countries, wanted to conquer that day the granite wall of the Leaning Tower. Skinner fell to his death while descending, he just hung on a safety rope.
Vertically in the amount outstanding rock walls are rarely on the fate of Yosemite visitors. In most fatal accidents are almost daily events. Leapt as Rachael Neil from Arizona from stone to stone. She slipped, fell into the Merced River and was pulled by the undertow toward Nevada Falls. They did not survive. That was on 24 August 2005. A day before that was already crashed Shane Kinsella from Dublin. He also had slipped, this time at posing for a commemorative photograph. Shane was too close to the edge of Yosemite Falls, lost his balance and fell over 400 meters in depth.
Alienation from nature
“Most people who die in such accidents are also a little to blame for her death,” said Michael Ghiglieri says in a report in the New York Times. Harsh words, but the ecologist knows whereof he speaks. He has in his book “Off the Wall: Death in Yosemite” examines more than 900 deaths in the 156-year history of California’s National Parks. From the slip at the waterfall, the mishap in mountaineering, the attack of an animal on drowning and murder – Dr. Ghiglieri has considered all deaths. Less the sensationalism it attracts you to understand when, as a chain out of bad decisions and unfortunate circumstances for the disaster.
“The main reason to address this issue, the question is: What can we learn from this?” Said the scientist. One finding: Narrow pedestrian bridges are a sore point. Another: In view of the three million annual visitors to Yosemite, the number of fatal accidents is very low. But striking is that it is among the dead are mostly young men (82 percent!) Is. The explanation that has Ghiglieri for this is surprisingly simple: To provide young boys in a small area like Yosemite many challenges in order to prove himself a man.