From Deseret News archives:
'Death in Yosemite' goal: Save lives
Yosemite National Park in central California is one of the nation's most popular outdoor treasures. A new book, "Off the Wall: Death in Yosemite," outlines and investigates a total of 870 deaths by various causes in the park from 1851 to 2006.
A sequel, of sorts, to "Over the Edge: Death in the Grand Canyon," published several years ago by one of the same authors of this book through the same publisher Puma Press of Arizona.
The authors make it clear that they aren't out to glorify death or sensationalize disasters in the park, but rather to save lives.
"Knowing exactly what they did wrong and why they decided to do it that way helps prevent history from repeating itself," the authors wrote.
They also warn that "some incidents in this book contain graphic descriptions of traumatic fatal events."
Well-organized and written, this isn't a book that will appeal to everyone only true lovers of Yosemite will likely find it worth the purchase price.
The book is divided into 14 chapters covering various types of death from waterfall cause or location to traffic fatalities, aircraft crashes, snow, homicides, drownings, fauna and flora, hiking, freak accidents and even park construction and base jumping.
With the 870 known fatalities in the park during its 155-year history, that's an average of 5.6 deaths each year.
What's the biggest killer in Yosemite? It's on the roads. Motorcycle crashes account for 158 total deaths, or some 18 percent of all deaths. A close second are drownings, with 144 deaths and third are hiking/scrambling accidents with 124 deaths. Fifth are big wall climbing with 104 fatalities.
Not surprisingly, men account for 83 percent of all fatalities. There have also been 60 total suicides that occurred in Yosemite and another 44 homicides.
The freak accidents (lightning, rockfall, wildlife, etc.) only account for 50 deaths in Yosemite's history, or less than 6 percent of the total. That emphasizes that a majority of the deaths in the park could have been avoided with common sense or preparation.
The authors quote Lee Whittlesey, author of a similar book, "Death in Yellowstone," who said, "Nature demands that we pay attention. Even so, every day, someone enters a wilderness unprepared."
Comments
- Wildcats prove no match for Tribe 11:44 p.m.
- No. 4 Frogs crush the Lobos 11:36 p.m.
- Cougars honor 1984 champs 11:36 p.m.
- Field goals, penalties doomed Utes 11:33 p.m.
- A reason why they play the game 11:30 p.m.
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah 11:29 p.m.
- Broncos still hope to crash BCS party 11:26 p.m.
- Gerhart helps Stanford steam past... 11:25 p.m.
- Hall comes up big when it counts 11:24 p.m.
- 5 Questions with an NHRA champ 11:17 p.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust
- Glover gives Utes last-second upset
- BYU football: 5 keys to victory
- Cougars turn back Wildcats'
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- Running game key to BYU offense
- Woods, wife unavailable for interview
- Idaho woman dies after fall
- Cougars beat Utes, 26-23
391 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
134 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
115 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
115 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Letters: Trump card for believers
99 - Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
90 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
88 - Hall's legacy measured today
75
The Wall Street Journal has reported that the holiday retail season...
When "Dancing With The Stars" began more than two months ago, 16 couples...
Comedian Brian Regan, who is scheduled to perform at Abravanel Hall on...
I'm glad they are sealing off the caves. Several years ago I went to Nutty...
Max Halls comments are unfortunate. I hope he and other BYU fans recognize...
Max is just lucky he doesn't have to face the Utes again. Of course, that's...
Okay, I am a long-time Ute fan but enough is enough. Too many Ute fans are...
Hey Brad Rock.. No need to note that Bradford was only played one half of...
I don't mind that you hate the U. I don't have any good feelings about you...
RE: Dan Fan | 10:59 p.m. Nov. 28, 2009 How does one earn his right to...
I apologize, on behalf of BYU, the football program, the university, the...
I attended the Florida State game and was super excited to cheer on BYU. I...
I'm a fan of both schools because I'm a fan of Utah. I'm also LDS. But...



You can be the first to comment on this story.