Those of you who know me, know that I hike this trail at least 3 times a week. I consider it my "treadmill" and love living so close. I've seen all kinds of weather up there, and all kinds of people, doing all kinds of things. On sunny weekends this trail is a mob scene with "ants" marching up and down in a constant line. I have a secret route that I take now that avoids the main trail for this very reason (don't tell the Department of Natural Resources :).
Once I witnessed some teens "playing" on the rocky ledges, out of sight, below the observation area. There is zero margin for error if you lose your footing when you are on the true edge- even worse when you are on the ledges below. Survival of the fittest is a real concept and just because it's a popular hiking trail, does not mean it's Disneyland safe. Sometimes I think folks get confident with safety in numbers and the concepts that a popular trail must, surely, not lead to a dangerous view point? Nature is kind to those who respect it.
A couple weeks ago Vil and I were fishing the lake and looking up at the ledge. I said "In the chronicles of history, I wonder how many people have fallen to their deaths up there." We talked about some of the idiotic behaviors we've both observed and in passing I said, "If there haven't been any deaths, it will only be a matter of time." Turning on the news this morning, I couldn't help think of that conversation.
It's a super sad tragedy. No one deserves to lose their short life that way, in such an amazing place. If there is any good to be found, hopefully word will travel about the dangers and folks will start being a bit more careful- esp. with kids and dogs.. at the top.
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