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Woman Dies in Fall From Angel's Landing

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    Climb to the top of Angel's Landing in Zion National Park and you'll have an incredible view of Zion Canyon and the surrounding cliffs. You'll also risk a spell of vertigo if you get too near the edge and glance into the void.
    In fact, reaching the top of the landing can be unnerving at times as you have to climb up some steep, and narrow, stretches of rock. The Park Service is well aware of the exposure on these sections and has anchored heavy chains into the most precarious spots so you have something to hang onto.
    Over the years five people have died in falls from Angel's Landing....the most recent death occurred yesterday morning with a 29-year-old Las Vegas woman fell 1,200 feet to her death. No word just yet on how Bernadette Vander Meer came to fall off the cliff.

Comments

Don't get put off the hike to Scouts' landing by others!!

The majority of the hike is to 'Scout's Lookout'. Angel's landing is almost a separate section .

I've just re-read other posts and realised that some people (eg StudentPilot) are being put off visting this hike altogether because they don't realise that 80% of this hike is to get to Scout's Lookout.

It would be a crying shame to decide not to try the portion of this hike that is incredibly safe, very rewarding.. and provides much of the great views. I would feel very comfortable walking my children (3 and 1) to Scout's lookout.


that is the dumbest thing i've ever heard...mandatory safety? there are warnings all over. if one sticks to the chains they will stay safe. its usually the avid hikers that die because they think they are more experienced than they really are...thats when mistakes happen


I don't want to see anybody get hurt. It would be so easy to make angle's landing safe by making it mandatory for people to use a harness and having a cable that run the whole length. People could clip into the cable eliminating the risk of an accidental fall. The last thing i want to see is sombody fall while i am on vacation. The sad part about it is the trail is so well maintained and constucted all the way to angle's landing and then you get the last section that has chain lacking in certain spots. People get in situations they don't want to be in, accidents/slips can happen to anyone. I think the park system needs to keep people safety in mind. Alot of different options could be used to make the trail safe.


We made the trip to Zion in 99. My wife and the 2 boys(ages 18, one which was not ours) decided to hike AL. When we got to Scout's Lookout, we realized that we had quite a ways to go. Well, the 3 of them took off and I remained at SL. After about 5 minutes, I decided that I would follow them. WELL, with huge backpack and tri-pod in tow, I set out. The very first section leading up to the first set of chains is when I knew I'd made a mistake. All of a sudden panic set in. With all of the gear on, I found it very difficult to turn around. After finally getting turned around, I made my way back down. After getting composed, I looked up and here came my son back down. He had gotten frightened and turned back. So me and him both chickened out but both of us are hear today, although he's in Afghanistan with the Army.

Not sure how far the wife got and the other kid but I don't believe they made it all the way. Well, in 2002, me and my son went to Yosemite. We hiked Half Dome. I didn't even try to make it to the summit but my son tried. Same thing. He came back down. He said"Dad, when I started slidding backwards and I had to hold the chains, I knew it was time to go down".He didn't have hiking boots, but he's like me. Don't think we like heights, I know I don't.

Don't think the NPS should police the trails. Just do what me and my son did. TURN around and live to laugh and visit more parks.


My sincere compliments to deanhicks for his comments above!

Just do what me and my son did. TURN around and live to laugh and visit more parks.

Many people would have a much more enjoyable visit to parks if they followed his - and his son's - example, and simply called it a day when they realize they are outside their comfort zone, or venturing outside their level of skill or equipment.

If more people would take that approach, rangers would spend a lot less time on search and rescue missions - and body recoveries.


Back in the '60s and '70s, I spent time hunting and traveling with Eskimos and Koyukon Indians in northern Alaska. They were true experts when it came to dealing with the wilds. From them I leaned the importance of patience and common sense in dealing with nature. They rarely took unnecessary risks and were masters of "hunkering down" in the face of extreme environmental conditions. They couldn't understand why White people seemed so determined to keep a schedule or felt they had to prove something by pushing their luck in the wilds. The idea of "man against nature" was silly, because they considered themselves part of nature.


Ray -

Excellent perspective!


We "chickened out" at the chains, but found a much, much better and far safer view at Observation Point. Glad we turned around and enjoyed the day!


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