Whatever happened to be taking responsibility for your own actions? If I accidentally slip and die on a national park trail I knew the risks. Don't start closing trails. Tragic events will never go away. People slip, trip, and take chances/risks and some tragically die. Most don't. Back in 1991, I hiked to the top of Yosemite Falls. I and a woman I had met on the hike were sitting back by the footbridge that goes over the stream and we noticed a guy and a woman on the trail side of the swollen stream near a fallen tree that went halfway out over the water. The guy started walking out on the tree and before we could even react he fell into the swift-moving water. I immediately started running along my side of the stream but I really didn't think there was much I could do as he would surely be swept over the falls before I could ever catch up to him. I got to a small maybe 10' waterfall that was about 20' or so back from the main drop and I saw nothing. Suddenly this guy pops up from the deep pool which thankfully had a small eddy on that side where I was and I grabbed his shirt. I don't think he was going to get swept away from that point but I didn't know if he may have hit his head. Together we got him out but his knee was torn up pretty bad. We hiked him down until rangers that were notified met him and took over. The point of the long-winded story is not once did the guy blame anyone but himself and he was lucky to have lived to say so. There were more than enough signs warning people to be extra careful near the water's edge. Preventable or not tragedies happen. Closing trails only makes it worse because people will sneak into poorly maintained closed trails and the risk of dying increases dramatically.
I agree about responsibility but I do think the top dangerous trails should be closed. Many people underestimate their abilities, especially young folks.
I hear you loud and clear. I have hiked in Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Mt. Whitney and numerous other National Parks. Every hike, I would prepare my daughters by saying, Mother Nature does not forgive mistakes. I have hiked in Yosemite several times. Last visit the ranger said that at least 1 person a year dies because they get too close to the edge of Yosemite Falls. They don't bother reading the warning signs.
They really only briefly mentioned closing it. Also , there is not one mention in here about people not taking responsibility for their actions ( i.e. trying to sue the park for hiking accidents ). If a trail is or becomes too dangerous then closing it has no relation to people taking responsibility for their own actions. You don't have an absolute right to hike this trail . I do think they should limit the number of people allowed on the trail as that can increase the danger. It would be interesting to know what the conditions were in all these deaths and how many were on the trail on those days.
This was a bucket list hike for me. When I went to do it in 2017 I made it about 1/2 way across and turned around. To many people on the trail. Was freaking me out that people were grabbing on to me in a death grip as they passed on the trail. Didn't feel safe so I turned around.
@@nomaderic yes. As they were passing me they would grab on to me. These people were to scared to be on this trail. If I ever make it back there, I would highly recommend getting there first thing in the morning before the crowds
@@mtnbk71 that's crazy. I get people are afraid but under no circumstances should you touch anyone without consent. I'm an avid hiker all over the country but for the most part I avoid many places like these due to way too many people. If I wanted to see alot of people I would just go to the city
First time I went I took my parents and got to the beginning of the chain section but decided to turn around as it was very crowded……I went back in 2020 and was able to hike it with absolutely no one on the trail. When I got to the top there were 3 other people which made 6 of us total. Great experience! (Trail said closed due to covid as you had to touch the chain….I just sanitized at the top 👌)
I hiked Angel’s landing in 1995 at the age of 45. I was aware of the dangers before attempting this hike. Being an athlete I was physically fit with good balance at that time. That being said, even a professional rock climber could have a misstep and fall. My heart goes out to the families and friends who lost a loved one to a tragic accident on Angel’s Landing. It’s beauty and challenge beckons many. I’m glad and proud to be one of it’s climbers, but I would not attempt it again.
It's overcrowded. I heard they're implementing a permit system now, so that might make it safer. Last I was there people were climbing over each other back and forth. It was chaos
I was at Zion last weekend and they have implemented the permit system for Angel's Landing. I consider myself athletic, but given the amount of people that visit Zion during the summer, I would not put myself in harm's way. I even heard people somehow cheat the permit system so it could be even more crowded. Who knows. Even the Narrows was overcrowded and the bacteria-infested water was disgusting. Nevertheless, it was great first experience.
@@fremontpathfinder8463 it’s really not that risky. In the last 2 decades, millions have hiked it and as the video said, there’s have been just 13 deaths in that time, mostly by people being unsafe. They said nearly half fall off the top, when the area is like 30 feet wide. Don’t stand right at the edge to look/take pictures. Don’t rush/leave children behind. Hold onto the rails. If it was really that dangerous, they wouldn’t let people go at all.
I have done this hike several times in the fall, I am extremely afraid of heights, I held the proper side of the chain tightly and would never leave the trail! I have done the Half Dome trail in Yosemite several times and I think that it’s much scarier and I’ve seen people hang over the ledge which is many times higher and lightning strikes have several injured or killed people. You have to have common sense wherever in the world that you are.
@@Jessica-to8um Hey idiot, he didn't take his coat. That means he is an idiot. If it was too cold to safely hike, he was an idiot. His fault entirely. End of discussion.
@@mitchellbarnow1709 I have the same fear of heights & have plenty of common sense not to be up there. -lol It's amazing you did it for all of us with the same phopia. Well done!
"Why not close Angel's Landing Trail altogether?" "I have no problem with that." Kind of infuriating. If you don't want to go, don't go. Quit trying to protect people from their own choices. Any halfwit knows the risks. And people die doing much dumber things.
I hope this trail continues, the big guy who said he doesn't care if it closes probably can't or doesn't do the hike himself. You have to appreciate it to conserve it.
@@cn1506 Once again, STAY ON THE TRAIL. People that die are usually idiots going for dramatic selfies or other pics rather than using common sense. Happens at the Grand Canyon a lot too. It's a great hike if you use common sense.
At least one person dies every summer falling down Yosemite Falls. The ranger said, people don't bother reading the warning signs. So 13 in 21 years is not even close to 21+ a year in Yosemite.
@@travass100 I'm wondering if that 641/day is an annual average. If so that's almost 1/4 million people per year, and about 1 death for every 378,000 hikers. That makes it riskier than plenty of things (including a tandem skydive at 1 death per 500k jumps, so about 1 customer per 1 million), but as a raw statistic each hiker is about 45 times more likely to die this year in a traffic accident.
I know. When I see the highway sign that say there have been 100 deaths(for example) so far this year on our highways and I think to myself, that's all, well that's pretty good.
I hiked the trail in 2019. I saw a young lady at the top walking backwards towards the edge looking at her phone to take a picture of her boyfriend. She stopped with her heels inches from the edge. The trail should not be closed to those of us with common sense to protect stupid people from themselves.
We saw something similar while visiting Yosemite in 2018. Young woman standing very near the edge of a tall drop, Half Dome in the background, having her friends take photos of her with her phone. She would check the photo, then give the phone back to them to retake, over and over. She was about 15 feet beyond the "do not cross" barrier.
I have another experience similar to what you said Dave and what Caroline Parker said she saw. I lived in Utah 2 years ago now and I was moving back to Florida. I hadn't been to the national parks in Utah because I there was so much to occupy me in the SLC area as far as hiking. So just before I left I decided to take a trip to a national park there so I went to Arches National Park......the next day I had planned to drive to another national park and check that out, but pics of Dead Horse Point State Park convinced me to go there instead.....it looked great and it was a lot closer. So I went there the next day.........you can walk around and there's no barrier to stop you from dropping straight down into the Canyon there. But....as I was walking around and looking down at the river down below I saw a group of young people who were posing for pics and from my vantage point it looked like the one person posed around a foot or two from the edge that drops into the canyon. It was crazy, but people the obsession to get a pic or video that becomes popular I think is now ingrained into a lot of people and they don't even realize the ridiculous extents they are going to to get it. I had another experience where I went to Antelope Island State Park which is where the great salt lake is located. I went there to go see the annual bison roundup.....a bunch of volunteers come in with their horses and drive them across the park to a certain area so they can get checked over and I think get some shots or something. So this roundup is over and we are leaving, but still in the park and we got lucky and they missed one of the bison and it decided to cross the road right in front of my car. I took a pic and sent it to my brother and his response was...."Cool pic, but who's that idiot in the back??". I looked again and didn't realize that one of the other people got out of their car and it looks like he's within 5-10 feet of the buffalo/bison taking a picture.
I’ve hiked it back in 2014, it was raining and there every step you take is sometimes inches from the edge, barely anyone has done this hike it’s an extreme one to take on there’s literally only one chain stopping you from falling. I finished the hike while it was raining, this hike is not for everyone. I’m sure it’s time to close the trail let it be
A lot of people turned back when it started raining, I went with my dad I was about 15 and it took a lot of energy. We didn’t get hurt or anything but you are literally on a cliff edge the entire hike, I’ve been at the scout lookout and even that is unsafe to some degree I don’t think there’s more than 5 minutes of that hike that is “safe” Just one wrong step and you’re over the edge of the cliff it’s literally unsafe, dictionary definition- not safe, I don’t think people should be free to hike this any day they want. The fact that I finished it the rain was due to the fact that it was a beautiful hike and we were more than halfway done, but wet, slippery chain’s haphazardly driven into the rock is totally a danger. Responsibility of the hiker or not the hiker shouldn’t be put into situations that seem “safe” but honestly and truly are not. One wrong grab on the wet chain and I was done, I was having suicidal ideations at this point in my life and my heart was still pounding because I knew I ultimately could not depend on the safety of the chain. There was another person who finished the hike solo. I will say it a hundred times- this hike isn’t an easy one, most people from my group did not even try to go on it because of how intense it really is. Anyone downplaying it without actually going there themselves should stop, it’s definitely unsafe, I wouldn’t recommend anyone besides an extremely experienced hiker........ (which I have experience I have hiked for months straight with a 72 pound pack 10 miles a day and then hiked 50+ miles in one day with the same 70lbs pack) NO one that is seriously questioning wether they should try it or not just stay the hell away from angels landing. I’ve been on so many damn hikes that look exactly the same, I know it is a bucket list hike to do, but don’t let it be your last bucket list item checked off your list people! Please be safe out there
I am an experienced hiker and with many mountain climbs, albeit mostly in the Adirondacks, the Rockies and New England, so not professional. I did this trail by myself on a weekday, with few others on the trail. It was my one and only experience with vertigo and on my way down I believe I crawled my way through that narrow section on my hands and knees while trying to interpret what was going on with my breathing and disorientation. I was scared wondering how could this happen with all my hiking and mountain experience? When I made it off the narrow part and looked back, the trail is plenty wide, but it must have been the sheerness of the drops on both sides that messed with my vision and triggered the vertigo. I would consider doing it again, but with company, and next time keep my eyes on the trail, not the views while on that narrow part approaching the top. Feeling of vertigo almost coming back as I write this - lol!
That is a pertinent thing to report and something I myself experienced whilst doing this hike . I got three quarters up and turned back . Just felt unsafe
Glad you made it back safely. I’ve heard about many people sitting on the edge being just fine with the height, but then they suddenly experience what you did as they stand up and they topple right into the abyss.
Its all in the mind, like you said, if you look back, its perfectly fine, wide enough, no reason to panic. You just need to learn how to control your mind and emotions that may save your life.
Snore: I hiked up and down the Angels Landing trail without using the chains a few years ago. It was fairly easy. So lets do the math: 10 people died in the last 17 years, that's 1/600 days. 641 hikers / day. Thus 1 death per 384,000 hikers. Typical sensationalist story. Doesn't seem like much of an issue to me.
Mark, data has a way of bringing clarity to issues. Sadly so many people aren't taught to think and ask questions, let alone seek data to evaluate a message being sent by any media source. The last 18 months have shown that explicitly.
If you chose to engage in activities that have risks, you accept those risks. The National Park Service is not responsible for keeping you safe. You are responsible for keeping yourself safe and being prepared when you visit these places.
All hiking comes with risk. Anyone like this man who enjoys hiking understands there's risk but still does it. I don't fault him at all. He was doing what he loves. I am also one of those men and have done it all my life. I am 60 years old now and have hiked this trail as well as across the Grand Canyon, Half Dome and Upper Yosemite Falls in Yosemite. Thousands of dangerous trails in Washington State where I live. I know there is a chance I could get hurt or even die but it will never stop me and if it happens to me I remind you that I was doing what I loved. My passion was being fulfilled so don't weep for my death or feel there is a need to close trails but celebrate my life for what it was.
In surfing there’s a saying we use, “when in doubt, don’t paddle out”.. This goes for anything you don’t have complete confidence in yourself in doing. Like hiking one of the most deadly hikes in the country. Don’t let your ego take your life. Stay within your limits with risky activities like this. I did this hike this year for the first time on my 20th bday. The most beautiful hike I’ve ever experienced.
I am 67 years old and have hiked that trail with sons and friends twice the past 4 years. Of course, common sense told me that the last half mile, "the chain section", was beyond our capabilities. So just use common sense. At no time did I ever feel unsafe, even with folks around, on any other part of the trail leading to Scout's Lookout. Just winded!! Common sense, stay away from edges, hiking poles to help your joints coming down, water and rest are all you need. One of the best hikes I have ever done, even not going all the way to the top.
You're spot on with your comment. My wife and I hiked this trail a few years ago at the age of 58. We're probably in just slightly better shape than the average person of our age. I can't recall any spots that seemed dangerous as long as common sense was being followed, We were very tempted to do the "chain section", but like you decided against it.
They need to put up signs that say, "use common sense". Or maybe something along the lines of no rubber bumpers to protect you should you fall. You'd think people would know they're on their own. There shouldn't even need to be warning signs. Think first! Right?!
Couldn’t agree more. The only problem, common sense is NOT to common. Once heard “ take the warning labels off everything and let things work themselves out” Darwin 🐠
Well said. (I'm 55 now and did Angel's Landing 2 years ago. Will hike it again.) One more thing I wanted to add... Spent much of the last week mountain biking, finishing with the Hurricane Mountain Bike Festival. Had lots of fun. Only negative? Maskless people. So stupid to endanger me and others because of a little piece of fabric. Supposed patriots SAY they'll do anything for "AMERICA," but can't wear a little mask? Stockpiling tons of weapons & ammo, but a mask is too much? WEAK-ASS crap right there! But to my point... After riding pretty aggressively over the last week, I hiked another local crazy trail up the mesa bluff above Ivins. The Red Mountain Trail is not really a trail. It's a scramble. As I was climbing it, I thought, "Man, this is SO MUCH EASIER than riding!" Just take shorter/smaller steps and it's no big deal. To not have to worry about going OTB because you miss an obstacle, or doing all the moves needed for technical riding sure makes a technical hike so much easier! Ride hard and your hikes will be a breeze (mostly)!
Wife and I did the hike in 2020. Same with us, we skipped the last section. Too many people and we didn't want to risk it. We enjoyed the beautiful hike but we did stay on the trail.
Having been there twice I can say that the amount of people on the trail is just insane. They should really restrict it somehow, and people need to stay on the trail itself. Closing it solves nothing really... as tragic as it is that people falls off, it's next to nothing compared to many other activities. People should know that climbing Angels landing or any other mountain comes with danger.
Interesting to see American perspectives. There are so many insane hukes people do without harnesses in usa, meanwhile the majority of Europeans would be wearing harnesses even on less insane trails. Also crazy that they don't install railing all along the trail.
Many years ago my wife (a photographer) and I had the privilege of spending time at both the south and north rims of the Grand Canyon. I am not good with heights and; unlike the south rim, safety railings were not installed at the lookout we visited on the north rim. The advice given of staying at least your height away from the edge is a must. To that I will add that I kept telling myself that in the event I lost my balance at any time - drop like a block of granite. The reason being that in ones' attempt to regain balance, one will easily stumble a distance equal to or greater than ones' height with the potential of going over the edge. And wear proper footwear; wearing flip flops on hiking trails and along canyon rims is stupid!
I will be going there with my son in May and hope to do the Angel’s Landing spur on the last day of our backpacking trip back down the canyon. In your experience, do you think that we would be able to carry lightly-loaded backpacking backpacks to the top of Angel’s Landing and down? Did you see any one with backpacks on? We would not want to leave our packs anywhere due to not trusting varmints and humans.
@@Dakota.Covers Yes, you guys can definitively bring backpacks. I’ve done it twice, and both times I had a semi heavy backpack, with waters, camera gear, etc...
This is one of the most spectacular trails I've done. However, I am in favor of a permit system. The trail is way overcrowded to be hiked safely for anyone that isn't prepared.
agreed, I went to zion years ago and opted out of angels landing because of the crowding. I trust myself on a trail like that and if I do something stupid that's on me, but I I have no desire to be on a tight trail like that in close proximity to 100s of people who may or may not know what they're doing. A permit system that allows hikers to adequately space out would solve a lot of the issues imo
Permit system is the way to go.....years ago it wasn't this crowded, but now it's like Grand central station up there!!! I was more afraid of careless loonies causing me to die, than of me doing something careless.
You got your wish, there’s a permit system in place starting this year! I think it’s the right decision too. Angels Landing is like Half Dome, it really needs to be permitted.
you do not want a permit system. That means that everytime you will want to do the trail, you will not have the permission to do so. And a significant percentage of people that do have the permits, will not be there physically at the park to do the hike. In Oregon, we have some hikes like that on a permit system so for a 12-mile trip, only 30-40 people get to do the hike on a weekend. Maybe only the people that get to do the hikes thanks to the permit system should pay the salaries of the Oregon Parks department. The permit system means you do not hike it unless you are extremely lucky and you know what you will be doing 9 months from now and the weather will allow you to hike on that day.
First did this trail 12 years ago at age 55. Have hiked it at least 15 times since then. Love it and plan to do it many more times. I do not believe it is dangerous if you are not prone to a fear of heights and if you respect the potential dangers of the trail.
I’ve done this hike well over 20 times. Yes, it can be dangerous. But it is NOT as bad as they make it out to be. The main problem is people not knowing their boundaries. They go up there like it’s emerald pools, and act foolish along the trail as well. In the nearly 2 dozen times I’ve done this trail, I have never once had an issue. And I have one leg.
I hiked a lot with my parents in Poland. If there was any problem, change in weather, someone too weak etc we always turned back. And also we were prepared for anything.
This is certainly tragic, but you can’t protect everyone from everything. Just because people get killed on the roads doesn’t mean you get rid of all the cars. There is risk to everything. Free will is the greatest freedom we have. 🦋
Please don’t have that attitude if it was your husband or son imagine how bad you would feel if they were one of the 13 KNOWN deaths caused by this one hike. I’ve hiked it back in 2014, it was raining and there every step you take is sometimes inches from the edge, barely anyone has done this hike it’s an extreme one to take on there’s literally only one chain stopping you from falling. I finished the hike while it was raining, this hike is not for everyone. I’m sure it’s time to close the trail, let it be..... A lot of people turned back when it started raining, I went with my dad I was about 15 and it took a lot of energy. We didn’t get hurt or anything but you are literally on a cliff edge the entire hike, I’ve been at the scout lookout and even that is unsafe to some degree I don’t think there’s more than 5 minutes of that hike that is “safe” Just one wrong step and you’re over the edge of the cliff it’s literally unsafe, dictionary definition- not safe, I don’t think people should be free to hike this any day they want. The fact that I finished it the rain was due to the fact that it was a beautiful hike and we were more than halfway done, but wet, slippery chain’s haphazardly driven into the rock is totally a danger. Responsibility of the hiker or not the hiker shouldn’t be put into situations that seem “safe” but honestly and truly are not. One wrong grab on the wet chain and I was done, I was having suicidal ideations at this point in my life and my heart was still pounding because I knew I ultimately could not depend on the safety of the chain. There was another person who finished the hike solo. I will say it a hundred times- this hike isn’t an easy one, most people from my group did not even try to go on it because of how intense it really is. Anyone downplaying it without actually going there themselves should stop, it’s definitely unsafe, I wouldn’t recommend anyone besides an extremely experienced hiker........ (which I have experience I have hiked for months straight with a 72 pound pack 10 miles a day and then hiked 50+ miles in one day with the same 70lbs pack) NO one that is seriously questioning wether they should try it or not just stay the hell away from angels landing. I’ve been on so many damn hikes that look exactly the same, I know it is a bucket list hike to do, but don’t let it be your last bucket list item checked off your list people! Please be safe out there
@@s.w.5340 I understand it is dangerous but if you aren’t experienced then don’t do it and if you get to close to the edge and fall then that’s your fault. They shouldn’t close the trail because the trail isn’t the problem it is the people that do stupid things on it that are.
On one part of this trail you've got to climb a well oiled up tree from people holding onto it. That part, I had a panic attack because I could not get up without help. It's so scary.
Climbed the landing twice. Once at age 13 and once at age 17. My parents and I knew the risks and never let go. RESPECT the trail. Don't close it. They have a massive visitor center that CLEARLY displays all trails and risks.
@@robsterboy5612 Looks like we got a bitter betty with a no body living rent free in his head. Rae was nicknamed "Trumpy Dog" when she was a puppy, year before the former president ran in the 2016 election. We called her this because her ear phase took longer than usual, causing one of her ears to slump over the top of her head. She looked like Donald Trump, so we called her that. Don't feel bad for her. She's living better than you are and she's happy, full of belly rubs and chewy treats.
The problem isn’t the trail, it’s the amount of people on it. You’re navigating others way more than natural features, and although many could achieve the hike it’s made even more difficult with the traffic. An easy attainable permit that requires a little upfront planning would be beneficial. Keeps it open to public but not a zoo.
They're willing to talk about closing this trail because only a handful of people fell? People should have a right to choose the risk they're taking that’s part freedom too.
Leave the trail alone. Tens of thousands hike it safely. I've hiked it and I trained to do it. Every trail I've been on, even the safest ones, are full of completely inexperienced people who think they're at Disneyland and it's safe to do anything they want. I've seen people trying to hike half-dome with no food or water and wearing inappropriate footwear.
Based on numbers given in this video,, 641 hikers per day on average (they did not specify season, so presumably more in summer, less in winter) x 365 days per year equals 233,965 trail hikers per year. 13 deaths since year 2000 (20 years), 20x 240,000 equals 4.68 million hikers over those 20 years. 13 deaths. Math would suggest this to be a relatively safe trail.
Thank you for the math. I hiked it and stopped at the false summit. I didn’t feel comfortable. Many others went on, good for them, just not for me. I think posting the data and lessons learned, might prevent future deaths. In summary you have a higher chance of death driving there than you do from the trail
Did you look at the trail in the video? Obviously not! Itis challenging to say the least! . You say that the statistics show it is "relatively safe" but that statement flies in the face of truth. Only the most experienced and physically and mentally fit hikers should think of hiking it. Am I experienced yes, fit yes , will I do it NO! The terrain is very challenging and the too frequent hikers of all levels of experience are on the trail at the same time, they are just as much of a hazard. I'll explore the rest of the park.
One time I was driving on a road and I decided to drive off the road and when I did that I was in a wreck and was injured. Other people have died. We should shut down roads. There are hidden dangers.
I have hiked this 3 times. I got engaged at the top. We don't need more government regulation. Being safe and common sense is the solution. What's next putting up a handrail around the 280 miles of the grand canyon. I feel bad for the families loss but it's simply about being responsible. It's a great trail and worth the visit.
I will be going there with my son in May and hope to do the Angel’s Landing spur on the last day of our backpacking trip back down the canyon. In your experience, do you think that we would be able to carry lightly-loaded backpacking backpacks to the top of Angel’s Landing and down? Did you see any one with backpacks on? We would not want to leave our packs anywhere due to not trusting varmints and humans.
i do have to say you really missed out. Its not that hard or dangerous as it is made out to be. I'm 13, my parents both have knee issues and my mom is scared of heights, about a week ago we did it and as long as you aren't a dumbass its just scary not that bad
@@timbeaux7678 let them live their own life, although i do highly suggest doing something like this every once in a while its there life. Personally i live by the motto of "Live Like Tomorrow Never Comes" and "Seek Discomfort" but not everyone does so stfu and live your own life
I was there with my girl at zion back in 2019.. She wanted to do that trail I simply said no and explained to her that trail will be too crowded and we have nothing to prove... There are many other trails that are difficult with being life threatening...
Millions of people go hiking every year and many trails have dangerous spots. The idea of closing trails to all for the mistakes of a few idiots is not the way to go.
671 hikers a day do the trail. 13 people have died since 2000. Id say while the trail is dangerous since its at an altitude, the cause of death was carelessness. You dont need forest ranges to baby sit the 670 because of the 1 that might fall. Let people who want to take the adventure and if someone is careless sorry, thats on them. Just write the number down and move on.
I’ve hiked Angel’s Landing multiple times and have regularly seen people taking risks to obtain photos, including doing handstands on the edge of the cliff, as well as moving off the trail to dangerous areas with no railings or stability. It would be unfortunate and unfair to responsible hikers to close the trail due to hikers who take unreasonable risks.
I just hiked it a few weeks back. There was a guy showing off running up the trail and he was wearing sandals. At one point he lost his footing and nearly lost it. I don’t think he realized how close he was to falling, but the few people that saw him did and had some words with him. He laughed and took off running again. When he took off he ran around a woman that panicked as he got close and took a defensive position. He could have knocked her off too. That’s the type of nonsense that gets people killed.
I hiked it when I turned 50yrs. and was highly reasonable with safety...it is really not hard to avoid the edge! Very sad to think people took unnecessary chances!
Hiked the trail a couple of years ago. The single biggest issue was, as pointed out by so many others, people panicking and jeopardizing others. I saw multiple individuals who were clearly nervous and they would grab on to the chain with both hands and take the most amount of space in the narrowest section. They wouldn't even yield the space (go back, rest, try again if you want) to the long queue forming behind them. It forced many to go out of the way at the narrowest section away from the chains. To be fair, it's no different when you observe people driving at 55 in the left most lane just because they feel safest.
I've seen people do stupid things. At Amicalola falls I saw a woman get off the stairs to retrieve a pair of sunglasses. She started sliding a bit and almost went over the edge. Required people to reach down and help her up. There are BIG signs warning death if getting off the stairs. There will always be people that don't pay attention
Really depends how expensive the sunglasses were. People always say “you can’t take it with you” but assuming you grab the shades as you fall, you totally can. Also make sure to ask to be buried wearing them in your will. Checkmate.
I did this hike 8 years ago and let me tell ya once I got to the chained area I just knew it wasn’t for me so I didn’t do that last leg and just took pictures and watched others do it . I saw lots of folks slipping and struggling and children ( under 10) in that part ! I was a bit shocked . The danger is super evident .
I've done Rainier 2x, Shasta, Adams, Whitney 12x, lots of SoCal mountains in the winter, icy, steep, clipped in climbs, I am very experienced with climbs involving risk. On these climbs, the general public is not on the mountain, the climbs are difficult and with an obvious element of risk, not easily accessible, and require equipment.. The problem with Angels Landing is that it has relatively high risk but no real barriers to keep the general public from giving it a try. Sure the sign mentions deaths since 2000 but the general public doesn't read signs. I did Angels Landing a few years ago and was astonished at the fact that such a dangerous hike was so wide open to anybody giving it a try. I saw sandals, completely out of shape individuals in sneakers carrying soda bottles for hydration, children, seniors, at least 50% had no business being up there. I am frankly amazed it's only 10 deaths, I could imagine a lot more. Generally government should stay out of the way but in this case you have a general public that is relatively clueless up against a trail with absolutely no margin of error. Reminds me of Half Dome, same deal...they instituted permits, seems like a logical start...
I've hiked to the top of Angel's landing three times by myself, it's unbelievably beautiful, but it's not for anybody that has a fear of heights or inexperienced hikers.
No, everyone is *offered a warning*, which is different. Some people are smart enough to heed the warnings, and some aren't. Those of us who are smart shouldn't be penalized because of the ones who aren't.
641 hikers a day for 200 days a year due to weather multiplied by 10 years = 1,282,000 hikers and 12 have died. Seems safer than driving down the highway 🤯
The top “plateau” finish to the trail is a full incline with no railing. Biggest issue I saw was wrong footwear. Foam bottom shoes easily slip on the sandy surface.
yes the places with no chains in place are dangerous wish they had chains all the way to the top also since so many people its hard to grab the chain with to many people in between
I accidentally ended up on this trail a few years ago, I thought I was on a different one. Most of the hike up is tame, most of it is actually paved, it's the last .5 miles that are dangerous. Since I was not planning on a 5 mile hike that day, I stopped at the first landing and rested for awhile. I could see the rest of the trail and since my legs were like jello, I wasn't going to dare try it. Beautiful views from the first landing though.
You, sir, are onto a very important point. The hike up the switchbacks to Scout's Landing, where the "hard part" starts, is definitely worth the effort even if one decides not to continue.
We have a few generations now of people who have been conditioned to think that people other than themselves are going to take care of them and keep them safe. They believe naively that life has no risks. “Climb along a cliff they say. It will be fun.” Anybody who engages in such risky activities need to take charge of themselves. There is only one person responsible for my safety and that person is me; not the government, not a company, not park service.
You may believe everything you are saying but the reality is that the park service and companies need to show that they adequately warn people of danger and have taken steps to mitigate risk in high risk areas. All of that because we live in a very litigious society. Lawyers will find some type of way to show that their injured or dead client wasn't warned enough. I'm guessing that the chains on that trail are a perfect example of that.
You might belive everything your saying but it sounds utter bull shite to me 😉 if you go the mountains you could die that's the whole point , if you stay at home you definitely won't fall in the mountains, end of story 👍
@@mizzury54 there is no need for more. Just place an age requirement, sign a waiver acknowledging all risks, and you are good to go.. People are becoming apparently more stupid these days. Glance at 15 warning signs before approaching a dangerous trail, still fall, and then we have people saying more warning signs or close the trail... GTFOH !!!
Per the article, the trail sees 641 hikers per day which is over 233,000 per year. With only 13 deaths since 2000 (each tragic) it is still an infinitesimally small percentage. A permit system seems to be the way to go, but closing the trail altogether is the wrong answer. Life will never be without risks.
Using their figure of 651 hikers a day there would be 237,615 hikers a year and 5,227,530 over the past 22 years (the numbers are actually higher). For there to only be 17 deaths there is an amazing statistic. You have a greater probability of dying in a car accident. After visiting there with my three teenagers we concluded that even my eleven year old could do it. However, we hike quite a bit and are experienced with heights and uneven surfaces.
I got to those chains and saw the crowds on that portion and decided it wasn't for me. The following day, I hiked to Observation point. Almost no hikers, and at the top I could look down on the hikers on Angels Landing.
Ive done hiking on many trials with high narrow ledges, and have seen foolish behavior from fair day hikers , who either through carelessness, or over confidence take risks that any sane person would not attempt. I am amazed their are not more injuries and falls, especially with people taking selfies.
According to the statistics in this video, the average hiker on this trail has about a one in 395,940 chance of falling to their death on any single hike. [13 deaths over 22 years = 0.59 deaths per year. 641 hikers per day X 365 days = 233,965 hikers per year. This comes out to about one death every 20 months or so.] Another way of putting this is that for every person who falls to their death 395,939 people make it to the bottom alive. Remember the successful climb is not necessarily the one on which you make it to the summit! It's the one on which you arrive intact at the bottom.
What an absolute shame the Big Brother types have now made this a permit-only hike. They will save maybe 1 life every 2-3 years, and for that, hundreds of thousands will be deprived of the opportunity.
We where just there last weekend and though we did not hike angels landing we did hike canyon overlook and was amazed at all the people throwing caution into the wind and letting little kids run crazy and close to the edges and also the amount of self absorbed people taking selfie’s from as close to the edge as they could get to get the best Instagram photo . Hell one girl was doing a hand stand on top of a cliff while her friends photograph and egged her on. This death is a shame but putting up more protective measures will only make dumb people dumber
It was kinda crazy how many people were on the trail when I did it. And how many people were going over the edge to little ledges. But I appreciate that you can do it and it’s your responsibility to do it safely. It’s sad that the guy died and my condolences to the family
Two people died at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon when we were there. It was their fault. One man took no extra water. Other woman fell. Still haunts me. But warnings were everywhere.
I will be going there with my son in May and hope to do the Angel’s Landing spur on the last day of our backpacking trip back down the canyon. In your experience, do you think that we would be able to carry lightly-loaded backpacking backpacks to the top of Angel’s Landing and down? Did you see any one with backpacks on? We would not want to leave our packs anywhere due to not trusting varmints and humans.
I will be going there with my son in May and hope to do the Angel’s Landing spur on the last day of our backpacking trip back down the canyon. In your experience, do you think that we would be able to carry lightly-loaded backpacking backpacks to the top of Angel’s Landing and down? Did you see any one with backpacks on? We would not want to leave our packs anywhere due to not trusting varmints and humans.
I just did this one last month. Right when they opened it. My buddy and I were the first ones on it. The hike up was perfect. Expect when we came back. People were flooding. Especially people that shouldn’t be on it. Like kids. Older people. Bigger people. I knew my risks, 3 points of contact. Some people were going up and down sketchy. Not waiting to pass. Let people make their own choices. The chain section starts right at the start of the trail too. Yes people risk it and fall. If you are safe you have high chances.
Yep. Remember that feminism has taught women they don't need men so now those women push the government into the role they used to rely on their men for. They now expect the government to coddle them, protect them from every micro danger and to provide for them free money.
Just 13 people in 21 years? Hardly a crisis. We lose several people every year on Longs Peak in Rocky Mt Nat'l Park. You do something dangerous, you take your chances. People need to take responsibility for themselves and their kids.
Don’t close the trail... wtf. EVERYBODY knows that all activities come with a risk. If you are not competent in that activity, don’t do it or go get trained first. It’s not like once you start the trail you have no choice but to finish. Once you see the part of the trail that seems beyond your level of skill, turn back around.
I would be all for a permit system. The most stressful part is hiking back down when there are lines of 20 people coming up the same chains you're trying to go down. Nobody communicating on the little landing spots between sections and all the sudden you have tons of people shoulder to shoulder trying to get opposite directions. The views were amazing but the crowds honestly ruined it for me. I'll only return in the offseason
The trail isn't forgiving at all and one misstep is all it takes. And not just in that famous narrow section everyone sees on IG, but throughout the trail in the last half mile, there are several points where simply stepping wrong can result in you falling off a cliff. I'm not sure I would do it again. It's honestly a miracle more people haven't fallen off given the large number of visitors
The solution here is not to close the trail. It is an amazing trail. I've hiked the trail many times, I remember my first time up it in 2002, we got up and watched the sunset from the top, it was incredible. I can see limiting volume because there are spots where passing people is challenging. Perhaps more signage on the bottom REALLY highlighting how small the trail can get would get some people to bow out ahead of time. As a climber, I'm of the opinion that when you're in nature, regardless if its back country or parks, you take the safety of yourself and those around you into your own hands. It's tragic that people lost their lives there, but it doesn't mean we should close the trail.
I will be going there with my son in May and hope to do the Angel’s Landing spur on the last day of our backpacking trip back down the canyon. In your experience, do you think that we would be able to carry lightly-loaded backpacking backpacks to the top of Angel’s Landing and down? Did you see any one with backpacks on? We would not want to leave our packs anywhere due to not trusting varmints and humans.
@@Dakota.Covers completely depends on your personal skill, balance, and comfort with heights. I was fine with a daypack. And it's only really the last bit that is thin.
The thing that scared me most was people coming down when you are coming up...if they slipped and fell on you then both of you could easily topple of the edge, just feet away
I was up there once. In the sections where the chains are I witnessed really young stupid people just walking around others as hikers met going up & down hands free, like they were walking down the street. When they were near me I leaned back into the mountain to give them as much room possible. I didn't want them slipping and grabbing me with them. What I'm saying is there are people up there that look like they don't care if they fall. Like they're trying to impress their friends as being fearless when actually they're idiots. At the top they have to get right on the precipice, take a photo, wait let get closer to the edge... Also in my mind was what if some nutcase is up there and decided to shove me off to get a thrill. I don't think it should be closed, but now these days a lot of people are just plain stupid/nutty.
I’ve hiked this trail multiple times and loved each time! My first time, I didn’t feel experienced enough to go all the way, so I turned back. My first time making it to the top, I was with friends. The trail wasn’t too overcrowded, but there were some crazy risk takers at the top. I remember a guy doing a handstand for a photo and having to bail out of it. My heart stopped because I thought I would see someone fall. I’m very happy that didn’t happen. People need to stop taking risks and be more aware of their surroundings and personal limitations. That being said, the last time I did the hike, the crowds were ridiculous! I was alone that time around, but found a couple who were making their way up who were more than happy to let me join their little group. (One of the many things I love about hiking is meeting new people). The entire trip was filled with so many people, it was like waiting in a line at Disneyland. The chained portion had people climbing all over each other or just letting go of the chain in favor of walking around everyone else. The entire thing was terrifying to watch. My little found group took things slow and tried to help others along the way, but there’s only so much we could do. Last I checked, permits have been put in place to hike it, which is absolutely necessary. Stay safe and keep hiking!
The Parks are dangerous, and it's literally impossible to stop that. There's a series of books titled 'Death in the (park name)' and people have been meeting their demise in parks for decades. Life involves risk! Cannot prevent every catastrophe.
I was there in 2018 when the 13 year old girl fell to her death. There were way too many people trying to move back from the top as people were trying to go out. People of course don’t like to wait. People were climbing out around over and under. I was with my 15 year old son and decided to just turn back. That night we heard on the news of the young girls death.
I've been up Angel's Landing. It's not that bad. They should just post a climb at your own risk sign and tell people the dangers. Other than that, let them do what they are going to do.
I did this hike 2 weeks ago. When you reach the chains it is instantly obvious that there is an element of danger to the final stretch. If you dont trust your feet, your balance, or the weather conditions, dont do it! Otherwise except the risk and take responsibility for your own safety. Just like all the people who did that caused the 3 hour wait just to START the chains the morning I went. And the people who fell from the mountain. Closing the trail isnt the solution to death, personal responsibility is.
My wife & I did this hike this year in summer. Yes, it was too crowded, but it was beautiful and was worth the hike. As in any hike, you need to be careful and be prepared for the dangers.
I was there a few weeks ago. There were so many people trying to go up and down this narrow trail at same time so they had to cross over each other. One person slipping could have caused a terrible domino fall. Someone was at top calling down that there was no more room for people at top. We opted not to do climb on those conditions. I believe they may need to start having limits or permits
Closing the trail is the wrong answer. This was such a piss poor, superficial analysis. I recommend shutting down Fox 13 News Utah before doing anything else.
Your safety and well being are your responsibility, whether you’re going to the corner store or climbing a summit. Always maintain situational awareness and act/react as rationally as possible.
Any accidental death is tragic but just an observation, they said 13 deaths since 2000 and this was posted in 2021. They also said 641 hikers a day. Simple math tells you the death rate is insanely low. No need to close the trail. People just need to be more cautious and use good judgment. Don't bite off more than you can chew. A person has got to know their limitations.
This trail doesn’t exactly have any “hidden” danger... the danger is very apparent. Make your own choices
Spot on!
Truuuuu
Exactly!!!
hell yeah brotha
EXACTLY
Whatever happened to be taking responsibility for your own actions? If I accidentally slip and die on a national park trail I knew the risks. Don't start closing trails.
Tragic events will never go away. People slip, trip, and take chances/risks and some tragically die. Most don't.
Back in 1991, I hiked to the top of Yosemite Falls. I and a woman I had met on the hike were sitting back by the footbridge that goes over the stream and we noticed a guy and a woman on the trail side of the swollen stream near a fallen tree that went halfway out over the water. The guy started walking out on the tree and before we could even react he fell into the swift-moving water. I immediately started running along my side of the stream but I really didn't think there was much I could do as he would surely be swept over the falls before I could ever catch up to him.
I got to a small maybe 10' waterfall that was about 20' or so back from the main drop and I saw nothing. Suddenly this guy pops up from the deep pool which thankfully had a small eddy on that side where I was and I grabbed his shirt. I don't think he was going to get swept away from that point but I didn't know if he may have hit his head. Together we got him out but his knee was torn up pretty bad. We hiked him down until rangers that were notified met him and took over.
The point of the long-winded story is not once did the guy blame anyone but himself and he was lucky to have lived to say so. There were more than enough signs warning people to be extra careful near the water's edge.
Preventable or not tragedies happen. Closing trails only makes it worse because people will sneak into poorly maintained closed trails and the risk of dying increases dramatically.
You would think this would be the case. You can only do so much to keep people safe. Know your limits.
Did it in 94, as a teen with my dad, still here.
I agree about responsibility but I do think the top dangerous trails should be closed. Many people underestimate their abilities, especially young folks.
I hear you loud and clear. I have hiked in Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Mt. Whitney and numerous other National Parks. Every hike, I would prepare my daughters by saying, Mother Nature does not forgive mistakes. I have hiked in Yosemite several times. Last visit the ranger said that at least 1 person a year dies because they get too close to the edge of Yosemite Falls. They don't bother reading the warning signs.
They really only briefly mentioned closing it. Also , there is not one mention in here about people not taking responsibility for their actions ( i.e. trying to sue the park for hiking accidents ). If a trail is or becomes too dangerous then closing it has no relation to people taking responsibility for their own actions. You don't have an absolute right to hike this trail . I do think they should limit the number of people allowed on the trail as that can increase the danger. It would be interesting to know what the conditions were in all these deaths and how many were on the trail on those days.
This was a bucket list hike for me. When I went to do it in 2017 I made it about 1/2 way across and turned around. To many people on the trail. Was freaking me out that people were grabbing on to me in a death grip as they passed on the trail. Didn't feel safe so I turned around.
Wait...people were putting their hands on you?
@@nomaderic yes. As they were passing me they would grab on to me. These people were to scared to be on this trail. If I ever make it back there, I would highly recommend getting there first thing in the morning before the crowds
@@mtnbk71 that's crazy. I get people are afraid but under no circumstances should you touch anyone without consent. I'm an avid hiker all over the country but for the most part I avoid many places like these due to way too many people. If I wanted to see alot of people I would just go to the city
Was definitely your intuition!! You saved yourself. It’s so important to follow that gut feeling even if you really wanna proceed
First time I went I took my parents and got to the beginning of the chain section but decided to turn around as it was very crowded……I went back in 2020 and was able to hike it with absolutely no one on the trail. When I got to the top there were 3 other people which made 6 of us total. Great experience! (Trail said closed due to covid as you had to touch the chain….I just sanitized at the top 👌)
I hiked Angel’s landing in 1995 at the age of 45. I was aware of the dangers before attempting this hike. Being an athlete I was physically fit with good balance at that time. That being said, even a professional rock climber could have a misstep and fall. My heart goes out to the families and friends who lost a loved one to a tragic accident on Angel’s Landing. It’s beauty and challenge beckons many. I’m glad and proud to be one of it’s climbers, but I would not attempt it again.
It's overcrowded. I heard they're implementing a permit system now, so that might make it safer. Last I was there people were climbing over each other back and forth. It was chaos
Wise thinking.
I was at Zion last weekend and they have implemented the permit system for Angel's Landing. I consider myself athletic, but given the amount of people that visit Zion during the summer, I would not put myself in harm's way. I even heard people somehow cheat the permit system so it could be even more crowded. Who knows. Even the Narrows was overcrowded and the bacteria-infested water was disgusting. Nevertheless, it was great first experience.
There are so many other great trails so why take a risk like this? You only risk leaving your loved ones to fend for themselves
@@fremontpathfinder8463 it’s really not that risky. In the last 2 decades, millions have hiked it and as the video said, there’s have been just 13 deaths in that time, mostly by people being unsafe. They said nearly half fall off the top, when the area is like 30 feet wide. Don’t stand right at the edge to look/take pictures. Don’t rush/leave children behind. Hold onto the rails. If it was really that dangerous, they wouldn’t let people go at all.
This man’s death is very tragic, of course. However, this story really glossed over the fact that he went off the trail! Seems pretty relevant!
If he went off the trail, that is 100% on him. What an idiot. I feel sorry for his family, but not for him.
I have done this hike several times in the fall, I am extremely afraid of heights, I held the proper side of the chain tightly and would never leave the trail! I have done the Half Dome trail in Yosemite several times and I think that it’s much scarier and I’ve seen people hang over the ledge which is many times higher and lightning strikes have several injured or killed people. You have to have common sense wherever in the world that you are.
@@Jessica-to8um Hey idiot, he didn't take his coat. That means he is an idiot. If it was too cold to safely hike, he was an idiot. His fault entirely. End of discussion.
@@mitchellbarnow1709 I have the same fear of heights & have plenty of common sense not to be up there. -lol
It's amazing you did it for all of us with the same phopia. Well done!
@@CrazyCranker Thank you so much.
"Why not close Angel's Landing Trail altogether?"
"I have no problem with that."
Kind of infuriating. If you don't want to go, don't go. Quit trying to protect people from their own choices. Any halfwit knows the risks. And people die doing much dumber things.
Exactly and with his mentality, people die in national parks so we should just close them all....smh moron
More than kind of. The government has neither the responsibility nor the right to protect me from myself. Back off!
Sounds like another Democrat making laws to limit our freedoms!
@@JDRVP Sounds like you're a troll.
Blow up the rock with dynamite! There. Problem solved. (Sarcastic remark).
I hope this trail continues, the big guy who said he doesn't care if it closes probably can't or doesn't do the hike himself. You have to appreciate it to conserve it.
He is on the bigger side haha . They should get a permit though and limit excessive people
I loved this hike. One of the best I've ever done. Very unique. Stay on the trail, use the chains and you are fine.
Except the guy in the video explained that most people die falling off of the trail before or after the chained section...
@@cn1506 Once again, STAY ON THE TRAIL. People that die are usually idiots going for dramatic selfies or other pics rather than using common sense. Happens at the Grand Canyon a lot too. It's a great hike if you use common sense.
@@cn1506 I’ve been here man, it’s really not that scary. People just make dumb choices and it is overcrowded.
13 died in 21 years. Seems safe to me. I'm not kidding.
This was my thought too. Over 600 people are on the trail per day. I’m surprised there aren’t a lot more falls.
At least one person dies every summer falling down Yosemite Falls. The ranger said, people don't bother reading the warning signs. So 13 in 21 years is not even close to 21+ a year in Yosemite.
@@travass100 I'm wondering if that 641/day is an annual average. If so that's almost 1/4 million people per year, and about 1 death for every 378,000 hikers. That makes it riskier than plenty of things (including a tandem skydive at 1 death per 500k jumps, so about 1 customer per 1 million), but as a raw statistic each hiker is about 45 times more likely to die this year in a traffic accident.
Im surprised it’s not more with how many bodies pack into that park. Used to be a more fun place
I know. When I see the highway sign that say there have been 100 deaths(for example) so far this year on our highways and I think to myself, that's all, well that's pretty good.
I hiked the trail in 2019. I saw a young lady at the top walking backwards towards the edge looking at her phone to take a picture of her boyfriend. She stopped with her heels inches from the edge. The trail should not be closed to those of us with common sense to protect stupid people from themselves.
We saw something similar while visiting Yosemite in 2018. Young woman standing very near the edge of a tall drop, Half Dome in the background, having her friends take photos of her with her phone. She would check the photo, then give the phone back to them to retake, over and over. She was about 15 feet beyond the "do not cross" barrier.
I have another experience similar to what you said Dave and what Caroline Parker said she saw. I lived in Utah 2 years ago now and I was moving back to Florida. I hadn't been to the national parks in Utah because I there was so much to occupy me in the SLC area as far as hiking. So just before I left I decided to take a trip to a national park there so I went to Arches National Park......the next day I had planned to drive to another national park and check that out, but pics of Dead Horse Point State Park convinced me to go there instead.....it looked great and it was a lot closer. So I went there the next day.........you can walk around and there's no barrier to stop you from dropping straight down into the Canyon there. But....as I was walking around and looking down at the river down below I saw a group of young people who were posing for pics and from my vantage point it looked like the one person posed around a foot or two from the edge that drops into the canyon. It was crazy, but people the obsession to get a pic or video that becomes popular I think is now ingrained into a lot of people and they don't even realize the ridiculous extents they are going to to get it. I had another experience where I went to Antelope Island State Park which is where the great salt lake is located. I went there to go see the annual bison roundup.....a bunch of volunteers come in with their horses and drive them across the park to a certain area so they can get checked over and I think get some shots or something. So this roundup is over and we are leaving, but still in the park and we got lucky and they missed one of the bison and it decided to cross the road right in front of my car. I took a pic and sent it to my brother and his response was...."Cool pic, but who's that idiot in the back??". I looked again and didn't realize that one of the other people got out of their car and it looks like he's within 5-10 feet of the buffalo/bison taking a picture.
We watched people climb OVER the wall at the Grand Canyon to take selfies "away from the crowd".
I’ve hiked it back in 2014, it was raining and there every step you take is sometimes inches from the edge, barely anyone has done this hike it’s an extreme one to take on there’s literally only one chain stopping you from falling. I finished the hike while it was raining, this hike is not for everyone. I’m sure it’s time to close the trail let it be
A lot of people turned back when it started raining, I went with my dad I was about 15 and it took a lot of energy. We didn’t get hurt or anything but you are literally on a cliff edge the entire hike, I’ve been at the scout lookout and even that is unsafe to some degree I don’t think there’s more than 5 minutes of that hike that is “safe” Just one wrong step and you’re over the edge of the cliff it’s literally unsafe, dictionary definition- not safe, I don’t think people should be free to hike this any day they want. The fact that I finished it the rain was due to the fact that it was a beautiful hike and we were more than halfway done, but wet, slippery chain’s haphazardly driven into the rock is totally a danger. Responsibility of the hiker or not the hiker shouldn’t be put into situations that seem “safe” but honestly and truly are not. One wrong grab on the wet chain and I was done, I was having suicidal ideations at this point in my life and my heart was still pounding because I knew I ultimately could not depend on the safety of the chain. There was another person who finished the hike solo. I will say it a hundred times- this hike isn’t an easy one, most people from my group did not even try to go on it because of how intense it really is. Anyone downplaying it without actually going there themselves should stop, it’s definitely unsafe, I wouldn’t recommend anyone besides an extremely experienced hiker........ (which I have experience I have hiked for months straight with a 72 pound pack 10 miles a day and then hiked 50+ miles in one day with the same 70lbs pack) NO one that is seriously questioning wether they should try it or not just stay the hell away from angels landing. I’ve been on so many damn hikes that look exactly the same, I know it is a bucket list hike to do, but don’t let it be your last bucket list item checked off your list people! Please be safe out there
I am an experienced hiker and with many mountain climbs, albeit mostly in the Adirondacks, the Rockies and New England, so not professional. I did this trail by myself on a weekday, with few others on the trail. It was my one and only experience with vertigo and on my way down I believe I crawled my way through that narrow section on my hands and knees while trying to interpret what was going on with my breathing and disorientation. I was scared wondering how could this happen with all my hiking and mountain experience? When I made it off the narrow part and looked back, the trail is plenty wide, but it must have been the sheerness of the drops on both sides that messed with my vision and triggered the vertigo. I would consider doing it again, but with company, and next time keep my eyes on the trail, not the views while on that narrow part approaching the top. Feeling of vertigo almost coming back as I write this - lol!
That is a pertinent thing to report and something I myself experienced whilst doing this hike . I got three quarters up and turned back . Just felt unsafe
Glad you made it back safely. I’ve heard about many people sitting on the edge being just fine with the height, but then they suddenly experience what you did as they stand up and they topple right into the abyss.
Its all in the mind, like you said, if you look back, its perfectly fine, wide enough, no reason to panic. You just need to learn how to control your mind and emotions that may save your life.
Snore: I hiked up and down the Angels Landing trail without using the chains a few years ago. It was fairly easy.
So lets do the math: 10 people died in the last 17 years, that's 1/600 days. 641 hikers / day. Thus 1 death per 384,000 hikers. Typical sensationalist story. Doesn't seem like much of an issue to me.
100% correct
THANK YOU! That is exactly what I was thinking the whole video, sensationalism at it’s best🤦🏻♀️
Car accidents are approximately 11 deaths/100000. Way more dangerous.
@@PhilRushworth Yes. Next we'll have to do "covid deaths" vs lightining strikes.
Mark, data has a way of bringing clarity to issues. Sadly so many people aren't taught to think and ask questions, let alone seek data to evaluate a message being sent by any media source. The last 18 months have shown that explicitly.
i don't think the solution is to close the trail. My goodness
I I do please close it
@@eutimiochavez415 Consider it closed. Don't bother going back there.
@@MrFg1980 Frodo
@@MrFg1980 🤣Got em'!
@@eutimiochavez415 Just don’t go if you’re scared of it. Simple lol
If you chose to engage in activities that have risks, you accept those risks. The National Park Service is not responsible for keeping you safe. You are responsible for keeping yourself safe and being prepared when you visit these places.
Tell that to Angela Trimonte's family.🤡
@@tentrickspony8925 She was foolish to go hiking in that kind of heat without a massive amount of water with her.
Totally agree. We do things and should accept the risks.
Unfortunately, as soon as you make it a park they are liable and lawsuits will follow, that’s just how the system works.
I agree, you do these hikes on your own peril, not anyone else’s family or otherwise
All hiking comes with risk. Anyone like this man who enjoys hiking understands there's risk but still does it. I don't fault him at all. He was doing what he loves. I am also one of those men and have done it all my life. I am 60 years old now and have hiked this trail as well as across the Grand Canyon, Half Dome and Upper Yosemite Falls in Yosemite. Thousands of dangerous trails in Washington State where I live. I know there is a chance I could get hurt or even die but it will never stop me and if it happens to me I remind you that I was doing what I loved. My passion was being fulfilled so don't weep for my death or feel there is a need to close trails but celebrate my life for what it was.
In surfing there’s a saying we use, “when in doubt, don’t paddle out”.. This goes for anything you don’t have complete confidence in yourself in doing. Like hiking one of the most deadly hikes in the country. Don’t let your ego take your life. Stay within your limits with risky activities like this. I did this hike this year for the first time on my 20th bday. The most beautiful hike I’ve ever experienced.
Closing the trail altogether??? Because of 13 fatalities in 2 decades, out of MILLIONS of visitors. Give me a break.
The trail isn’t killing these people, it’s the Gravity, we NEED to Ban GRAVITY!
I am 67 years old and have hiked that trail with sons and friends twice the past 4 years. Of course, common sense told me that the last half mile, "the chain section", was beyond our capabilities. So just use common sense. At no time did I ever feel unsafe, even with folks around, on any other part of the trail leading to Scout's Lookout. Just winded!! Common sense, stay away from edges, hiking poles to help your joints coming down, water and rest are all you need. One of the best hikes I have ever done, even not going all the way to the top.
You're spot on with your comment. My wife and I hiked this trail a few years ago at the age of 58. We're probably in just slightly better shape than the average person of our age. I can't recall any spots that seemed dangerous as long as common sense was being followed, We were very tempted to do the "chain section", but like you decided against it.
They need to put up signs that say, "use common sense". Or maybe something along the lines of no rubber bumpers to protect you should you fall. You'd think people would know they're on their own. There shouldn't even need to be warning signs. Think first! Right?!
Couldn’t agree more. The only problem, common sense is NOT to common. Once heard “ take the warning labels off everything and let things work themselves out” Darwin 🐠
Well said. (I'm 55 now and did Angel's Landing 2 years ago. Will hike it again.)
One more thing I wanted to add...
Spent much of the last week mountain biking, finishing with the Hurricane Mountain Bike Festival. Had lots of fun. Only negative? Maskless people. So stupid to endanger me and others because of a little piece of fabric. Supposed patriots SAY they'll do anything for "AMERICA," but can't wear a little mask? Stockpiling tons of weapons & ammo, but a mask is too much? WEAK-ASS crap right there!
But to my point... After riding pretty aggressively over the last week, I hiked another local crazy trail up the mesa bluff above Ivins. The Red Mountain Trail is not really a trail. It's a scramble. As I was climbing it, I thought, "Man, this is SO MUCH EASIER than riding!" Just take shorter/smaller steps and it's no big deal. To not have to worry about going OTB because you miss an obstacle, or doing all the moves needed for technical riding sure makes a technical hike so much easier!
Ride hard and your hikes will be a breeze (mostly)!
Wife and I did the hike in 2020. Same with us, we skipped the last section. Too many people and we didn't want to risk it. We enjoyed the beautiful hike but we did stay on the trail.
Having been there twice I can say that the amount of people on the trail is just insane. They should really restrict it somehow, and people need to stay on the trail itself. Closing it solves nothing really... as tragic as it is that people falls off, it's next to nothing compared to many other activities. People should know that climbing Angels landing or any other mountain comes with danger.
Hopefully the new permit system fixes this issue
Interesting to see American perspectives. There are so many insane hukes people do without harnesses in usa, meanwhile the majority of Europeans would be wearing harnesses even on less insane trails. Also crazy that they don't install railing all along the trail.
I agree. Permit system works well for busy hikes like Half Dome and Whitney.
Many years ago my wife (a photographer) and I had the privilege of spending time at both the south and north rims of the Grand Canyon. I am not good with heights and; unlike the south rim, safety railings were not installed at the lookout we visited on the north rim. The advice given of staying at least your height away from the edge is a must. To that I will add that I kept telling myself that in the event I lost my balance at any time - drop like a block of granite. The reason being that in ones' attempt to regain balance, one will easily stumble a distance equal to or greater than ones' height with the potential of going over the edge. And wear proper footwear; wearing flip flops on hiking trails and along canyon rims is stupid!
I'd bet too many people are trying to get that "epic selfie".
Just like the Grand Canyon. A game of “How daring can I be?”
10000%
I bet ur right
We lost one on The Appalachian Trail.
His Trail name was “Oh Shit” for the last words he uttered just prior to going over the edge.
Just Photoshop yourself into these situations lmao
If you stay on the trail, you're fine. People fall from going off trail or too close to the edge.
Yep. Also, there are those people with terrible balance. I know a couple. Those people should know they shouldn’t try doing trails like these.
I will be going there with my son in May and hope to do the Angel’s Landing spur on the last day of our backpacking trip back down the canyon. In your experience, do you think that we would be able to carry lightly-loaded backpacking backpacks to the top of Angel’s Landing and down? Did you see any one with backpacks on? We would not want to leave our packs anywhere due to not trusting varmints and humans.
@@Dakota.Covers Yes, you guys can definitively bring backpacks. I’ve done it twice, and both times I had a semi heavy backpack, with waters, camera gear, etc...
@@jr4chargers ours are large 65 liter backpacking backpacks. That might be bigger than what you carried?
@@Dakota.Covers I feel like it should be okay, as long as the backpacks aren’t so heavy to the point that it makes you guys lose your balance.
This is one of the most spectacular trails I've done. However, I am in favor of a permit system. The trail is way overcrowded to be hiked safely for anyone that isn't prepared.
A permit system is a great idea and MUCH better than closing the trail, which is ridiculous.
agreed, I went to zion years ago and opted out of angels landing because of the crowding. I trust myself on a trail like that and if I do something stupid that's on me, but I I have no desire to be on a tight trail like that in close proximity to 100s of people who may or may not know what they're doing. A permit system that allows hikers to adequately space out would solve a lot of the issues imo
Permit system is the way to go.....years ago it wasn't this crowded, but now it's like Grand central station up there!!! I was more afraid of careless loonies causing me to die, than of me doing something careless.
You got your wish, there’s a permit system in place starting this year! I think it’s the right decision too. Angels Landing is like Half Dome, it really needs to be permitted.
you do not want a permit system. That means that everytime you will want to do the trail, you will not have the permission to do so. And a significant percentage of people that do have the permits, will not be there physically at the park to do the hike. In Oregon, we have some hikes like that on a permit system so for a 12-mile trip, only 30-40 people get to do the hike on a weekend. Maybe only the people that get to do the hikes thanks to the permit system should pay the salaries of the Oregon Parks department. The permit system means you do not hike it unless you are extremely lucky and you know what you will be doing 9 months from now and the weather will allow you to hike on that day.
First did this trail 12 years ago at age 55. Have hiked it at least 15 times since then. Love it and plan to do it many more times. I do not believe it is dangerous if you are not prone to a fear of heights and if you respect the potential dangers of the trail.
Never know, you may encounter a wet or oily spot.
Be careful, your balance deteriorates with age.
@@MrSerendipity01 So do the bottoms of your hiking shoes.
I’ve done this hike well over 20 times. Yes, it can be dangerous. But it is NOT as bad as they make it out to be. The main problem is people not knowing their boundaries. They go up there like it’s emerald pools, and act foolish along the trail as well. In the nearly 2 dozen times I’ve done this trail, I have never once had an issue. And I have one leg.
Wow! Your last sentence hit me like a train! I’m happy for you 💯💪
I hiked a lot with my parents in Poland. If there was any problem, change in weather, someone too weak etc we always turned back. And also we were prepared for anything.
I have no legs 🦵 and I’ve don’t this 0 times
Oh yeah, really? And Santa Claus is real and so is the tooth fairy and Madeleine McCann was abducted!😂
@@MrSerendipity01 yeah I don’t see how that pertains to my comment in anyway.
This is certainly tragic, but you can’t protect everyone from everything. Just because people get killed on the roads doesn’t mean you get rid of all the cars. There is risk to everything. Free will is the greatest freedom we have. 🦋
I don't like the way we remove our ability to take risks.
Please don’t have that attitude if it was your husband or son imagine how bad you would feel if they were one of the 13 KNOWN deaths caused by this one hike. I’ve hiked it back in 2014, it was raining and there every step you take is sometimes inches from the edge, barely anyone has done this hike it’s an extreme one to take on there’s literally only one chain stopping you from falling. I finished the hike while it was raining, this hike is not for everyone. I’m sure it’s time to close the trail, let it be.....
A lot of people turned back when it started raining, I went with my dad I was about 15 and it took a lot of energy. We didn’t get hurt or anything but you are literally on a cliff edge the entire hike, I’ve been at the scout lookout and even that is unsafe to some degree I don’t think there’s more than 5 minutes of that hike that is “safe” Just one wrong step and you’re over the edge of the cliff it’s literally unsafe, dictionary definition- not safe, I don’t think people should be free to hike this any day they want. The fact that I finished it the rain was due to the fact that it was a beautiful hike and we were more than halfway done, but wet, slippery chain’s haphazardly driven into the rock is totally a danger. Responsibility of the hiker or not the hiker shouldn’t be put into situations that seem “safe” but honestly and truly are not. One wrong grab on the wet chain and I was done, I was having suicidal ideations at this point in my life and my heart was still pounding because I knew I ultimately could not depend on the safety of the chain. There was another person who finished the hike solo. I will say it a hundred times- this hike isn’t an easy one, most people from my group did not even try to go on it because of how intense it really is. Anyone downplaying it without actually going there themselves should stop, it’s definitely unsafe, I wouldn’t recommend anyone besides an extremely experienced hiker........ (which I have experience I have hiked for months straight with a 72 pound pack 10 miles a day and then hiked 50+ miles in one day with the same 70lbs pack) NO one that is seriously questioning wether they should try it or not just stay the hell away from angels landing. I’ve been on so many damn hikes that look exactly the same, I know it is a bucket list hike to do, but don’t let it be your last bucket list item checked off your list people! Please be safe out there
As someone who almost died in a car accident I would be ok with that. Lol.
Also why are people in Sandals that's asking for trouble
@@s.w.5340 I understand it is dangerous but if you aren’t experienced then don’t do it and if you get to close to the edge and fall then that’s your fault. They shouldn’t close the trail because the trail isn’t the problem it is the people that do stupid things on it that are.
I don't need to hike that deadly trail to enjoy the beauty of the place
On one part of this trail you've got to climb a well oiled up tree from people holding onto it. That part, I had a panic attack because I could not get up without help. It's so scary.
You are responsible for your own decisions. If your legs start shaking, go back! Know your strength and stay within it.
My sons aunt slipped and fell off due to slippery conditions….
Climbed the landing twice. Once at age 13 and once at age 17. My parents and I knew the risks and never let go. RESPECT the trail. Don't close it. They have a massive visitor center that CLEARLY displays all trails and risks.
Ohh it wont be closed, but it will now required a permit!!! no more Instagram zombies
@@robsterboy5612 Looks like we got a bitter betty with a no body living rent free in his head.
Rae was nicknamed "Trumpy Dog" when she was a puppy, year before the former president ran in the 2016 election. We called her this because her ear phase took longer than usual, causing one of her ears to slump over the top of her head. She looked like Donald Trump, so we called her that.
Don't feel bad for her. She's living better than you are and she's happy, full of belly rubs and chewy treats.
The problem isn’t the trail, it’s the amount of people on it. You’re navigating others way more than natural features, and although many could achieve the hike it’s made even more difficult with the traffic.
An easy attainable permit that requires a little upfront planning would be beneficial. Keeps it open to public but not a zoo.
There is a permit system now
They're willing to talk about closing this trail because only a handful of people fell? People should have a right to choose the risk they're taking that’s part freedom too.
Leave the trail alone. Tens of thousands hike it safely. I've hiked it and I trained to do it. Every trail I've been on, even the safest ones, are full of completely inexperienced people who think they're at Disneyland and it's safe to do anything they want. I've seen people trying to hike half-dome with no food or water and wearing inappropriate footwear.
The instagram effect sadly
No no. Require permits and quotas for everything that's dangerous. Either that or close them. Trails, rivers, highways, showers. etc.
How have you trained to do it? I plan on hiking it this June for the first time.
Based on numbers given in this video,, 641 hikers per day on average (they did not specify season, so presumably more in summer, less in winter) x 365 days per year equals 233,965 trail hikers per year. 13 deaths since year 2000 (20 years), 20x 240,000 equals 4.68 million hikers over those 20 years. 13 deaths. Math would suggest this to be a relatively safe trail.
I hiked it. It felt very safe.
Thank you for the math. I hiked it and stopped at the false summit. I didn’t feel comfortable. Many others went on, good for them, just not for me. I think posting the data and lessons learned, might prevent future deaths. In summary you have a higher chance of death driving there than you do from the trail
My mind calculated that straight away. Glad you wrote it down. Saved me a job.
Did you look at the trail in the video? Obviously not! Itis challenging to say the least! . You say that the statistics show it is "relatively safe" but that statement flies in the face of truth. Only the most experienced and physically and mentally fit hikers should think of hiking it. Am I experienced yes, fit yes , will I do it NO! The terrain is very challenging and the too frequent hikers of all levels of experience are on the trail at the same time, they are just as much of a hazard. I'll explore the rest of the park.
@@christinemeleg4535 I’m not a liberal like you, so I use, and have stated, pure facts.
One time I was driving on a road and I decided to drive off the road and when I did that I was in a wreck and was injured. Other people have died. We should shut down roads. There are hidden dangers.
As a teenager I did this hike during a thunderstorm. I somehow survived to adulthood.
I have hiked this 3 times. I got engaged at the top. We don't need more government regulation. Being safe and common sense is the solution. What's next putting up a handrail around the 280 miles of the grand canyon. I feel bad for the families loss but it's simply about being responsible.
It's a great trail and worth the visit.
I like what you said about gov't regulation. It's a pretty cool view of the canyon up there isn't it !
I will be going there with my son in May and hope to do the Angel’s Landing spur on the last day of our backpacking trip back down the canyon. In your experience, do you think that we would be able to carry lightly-loaded backpacking backpacks to the top of Angel’s Landing and down? Did you see any one with backpacks on? We would not want to leave our packs anywhere due to not trusting varmints and humans.
We got engaged there too! I said yes... everyone cheered loudly......hikers coming up thought someone fell.🤣
Stay away.
Be safe.
My wife and I knew this hike was dangerous so we didn’t hike it. That’s it, use common sense. And don’t ruin experience for the others!
Well, you missed out, dummy.
Being rude is not necessary Timbeaux. It wasn't your choice to make.
i do have to say you really missed out. Its not that hard or dangerous as it is made out to be. I'm 13, my parents both have knee issues and my mom is scared of heights, about a week ago we did it and as long as you aren't a dumbass its just scary not that bad
What sad lives you must live.
@@timbeaux7678 let them live their own life, although i do highly suggest doing something like this every once in a while its there life. Personally i live by the motto of "Live Like Tomorrow Never Comes" and "Seek Discomfort" but not everyone does so stfu and live your own life
I was there with my girl at zion back in 2019.. She wanted to do that trail I simply said no and explained to her that trail will be too crowded and we have nothing to prove... There are many other trails that are difficult with being life threatening...
Millions of people go hiking every year and many trails have dangerous spots. The idea of closing trails to all for the mistakes of a few idiots is not the way to go.
671 hikers a day do the trail. 13 people have died since 2000. Id say while the trail is dangerous since its at an altitude, the cause of death was carelessness. You dont need forest ranges to baby sit the 670 because of the 1 that might fall. Let people who want to take the adventure and if someone is careless sorry, thats on them. Just write the number down and move on.
I agree. Do the numbers, that's safer than driving any freeway in this country.
I’ve hiked Angel’s Landing multiple times and have regularly seen people taking risks to obtain photos, including doing handstands on the edge of the cliff, as well as moving off the trail to dangerous areas with no railings or stability. It would be unfortunate and unfair to responsible hikers to close the trail due to hikers who take unreasonable risks.
I just hiked it a few weeks back. There was a guy showing off running up the trail and he was wearing sandals. At one point he lost his footing and nearly lost it. I don’t think he realized how close he was to falling, but the few people that saw him did and had some words with him. He laughed and took off running again. When he took off he ran around a woman that panicked as he got close and took a defensive position. He could have knocked her off too. That’s the type of nonsense that gets people killed.
Wow, this shocks me about the handstands. no words
@@charlieklassa5304 imagine someone so starved for attention, even from strangers he will never seen again.
I hiked it when I turned 50yrs. and was highly reasonable with safety...it is really not hard to avoid the edge! Very sad to think people took unnecessary chances!
Hiked the trail a couple of years ago. The single biggest issue was, as pointed out by so many others, people panicking and jeopardizing others. I saw multiple individuals who were clearly nervous and they would grab on to the chain with both hands and take the most amount of space in the narrowest section. They wouldn't even yield the space (go back, rest, try again if you want) to the long queue forming behind them. It forced many to go out of the way at the narrowest section away from the chains. To be fair, it's no different when you observe people driving at 55 in the left most lane just because they feel safest.
I've seen people do stupid things. At Amicalola falls I saw a woman get off the stairs to retrieve a pair of sunglasses. She started sliding a bit and almost went over the edge. Required people to reach down and help her up. There are BIG signs warning death if getting off the stairs. There will always be people that don't pay attention
Sheesh! Some people are heading for disaster.
I used to work at a trauma center south of Amicalola falls and we would get 2-3 bad injuries from there every year - people doing stupid things!
And that’s not even a difficult trail. Sheesh. People have to ruin it for others.
Really depends how expensive the sunglasses were. People always say “you can’t take it with you” but assuming you grab the shades as you fall, you totally can. Also make sure to ask to be buried wearing them in your will. Checkmate.
They see the signs and dont care.
I did this hike 8 years ago and let me tell ya once I got to the chained area I just knew it wasn’t for me so I didn’t do that last leg and just took pictures and watched others do it . I saw lots of folks slipping and struggling and children ( under 10) in that part ! I was a bit shocked . The danger is super evident .
Id scream if I saw anybody's child on that fuckin path holy shitttt
@@Kaerikillington
Your scream would probably startle the child and they would fall off.
Stay home.
Stay safe.
What is the age of a child in USA?
Under 18 ?
@@blackpillcommando4927 lol yeah you're right
@@Kaerikillington lol I did that trail when I was 12
I've done Rainier 2x, Shasta, Adams, Whitney 12x, lots of SoCal mountains in the winter, icy, steep, clipped in climbs, I am very experienced with climbs involving risk. On these climbs, the general public is not on the mountain, the climbs are difficult and with an obvious element of risk, not easily accessible, and require equipment.. The problem with Angels Landing is that it has relatively high risk but no real barriers to keep the general public from giving it a try. Sure the sign mentions deaths since 2000 but the general public doesn't read signs. I did Angels Landing a few years ago and was astonished at the fact that such a dangerous hike was so wide open to anybody giving it a try. I saw sandals, completely out of shape individuals in sneakers carrying soda bottles for hydration, children, seniors, at least 50% had no business being up there. I am frankly amazed it's only 10 deaths, I could imagine a lot more. Generally government should stay out of the way but in this case you have a general public that is relatively clueless up against a trail with absolutely no margin of error. Reminds me of Half Dome, same deal...they instituted permits, seems like a logical start...
I've hiked to the top of Angel's landing three times by myself, it's unbelievably beautiful, but it's not for anybody that has a fear of heights or inexperienced hikers.
There's a sign on the trail warning people about people falling. Everyone knows the risk they're taking.
MAYBE they think someone will swing out from the cliff face (yes, just like Spiderman)& save them from gravity?? Gravity, u can be so cruel!
No, everyone is *offered a warning*, which is different. Some people are smart enough to heed the warnings, and some aren't. Those of us who are smart shouldn't be penalized because of the ones who aren't.
@@stevepseudonym445 exactly!!!
You start shutting down hiking trails and that is the beginning of the end of are freedom in this country.
Already heading that way, since last November.
@@lunaticfringe5834 We’re in a pandemic...totally different situation, those closures are all temporary
@@pkingpure100 I think he is referring to the fraudulent election.
@@frankblangeard8865 Oh yeah, you’re right.
641 hikers a day for 200 days a year due to weather multiplied by 10 years = 1,282,000 hikers and 12 have died. Seems safer than driving down the highway 🤯
The top “plateau” finish to the trail is a full incline with no railing. Biggest issue I saw was wrong footwear. Foam bottom shoes easily slip on the sandy surface.
yes the places with no chains in place are dangerous wish they had chains all the way to the top also since so many people its hard to grab the chain with to many people in between
Don't they have a warning to use gripping shoes
@@20PINKluvr well one persons gripping shoes is anothers non, safety first though perhaps they should who is checking?
I accidentally ended up on this trail a few years ago, I thought I was on a different one. Most of the hike up is tame, most of it is actually paved, it's the last .5 miles that are dangerous. Since I was not planning on a 5 mile hike that day, I stopped at the first landing and rested for awhile. I could see the rest of the trail and since my legs were like jello, I wasn't going to dare try it. Beautiful views from the first landing though.
You, sir, are onto a very important point. The hike up the switchbacks to Scout's Landing, where the "hard part" starts, is definitely worth the effort even if one decides not to continue.
Common sense!
We have a few generations now of people who have been conditioned to think that people other than themselves are going to take care of them and keep them safe. They believe naively that life has no risks. “Climb along a cliff they say. It will be fun.” Anybody who engages in such risky activities need to take charge of themselves. There is only one person responsible for my safety and that person is me; not the government, not a company, not park service.
You may believe everything you are saying but the reality is that the park service and companies need to show that they adequately warn people of danger and have taken steps to mitigate risk in high risk areas. All of that because we live in a very litigious society. Lawyers will find some type of way to show that their injured or dead client wasn't warned enough. I'm guessing that the chains on that trail are a perfect example of that.
You might belive everything your saying but it sounds utter bull shite to me 😉 if you go the mountains you could die that's the whole point , if you stay at home you definitely won't fall in the mountains, end of story 👍
@HonkeyConk Apparently more.
Sounds like you’re talking about corporations...
@@mizzury54 there is no need for more. Just place an age requirement, sign a waiver acknowledging all risks, and you are good to go.. People are becoming apparently more stupid these days. Glance at 15 warning signs before approaching a dangerous trail, still fall, and then we have people saying more warning signs or close the trail... GTFOH !!!
It's not the fall that kills you... it is the sudden stop at the end. 💀 ☠ 💀
Per the article, the trail sees 641 hikers per day which is over 233,000 per year. With only 13 deaths since 2000 (each tragic) it is still an infinitesimally small percentage. A permit system seems to be the way to go, but closing the trail altogether is the wrong answer. Life will never be without risks.
People do stupid things all the time. It is a CLIFF. Stay away from the edge
How hard is that?
David Heggie has never been a trekker.
It's nobody's business what risks people take so long as they accept total responsibility for their actions.
Using their figure of 651 hikers a day there would be 237,615 hikers a year and 5,227,530 over the past 22 years (the numbers are actually higher). For there to only be 17 deaths there is an amazing statistic. You have a greater probability of dying in a car accident. After visiting there with my three teenagers we concluded that even my eleven year old could do it. However, we hike quite a bit and are experienced with heights and uneven surfaces.
I got to those chains and saw the crowds on that portion and decided it wasn't for me. The following day, I hiked to Observation point. Almost no hikers, and at the top I could look down on the hikers on Angels Landing.
Ive done hiking on many trials with high narrow ledges, and have seen foolish behavior from fair day hikers , who either through carelessness, or over confidence take risks that any sane person would not attempt. I am amazed their are not more injuries and falls, especially with people taking selfies.
Sad for sure but you know the risk before you start. Leave access as it is those who do not adhere to safe practices should not ruin it for everyone.
According to the statistics in this video, the average hiker on this trail has about a one in 395,940 chance of falling to their death on any single hike. [13 deaths over 22 years = 0.59 deaths per year. 641 hikers per day X 365 days = 233,965 hikers per year. This comes out to about one death every 20 months or so.] Another way of putting this is that for every person who falls to their death 395,939 people make it to the bottom alive. Remember the successful climb is not necessarily the one on which you make it to the summit! It's the one on which you arrive intact at the bottom.
What an absolute shame the Big Brother types have now made this a permit-only hike. They will save maybe 1 life every 2-3 years, and for that, hundreds of thousands will be deprived of the opportunity.
I hope closing the trail is not a serious option... I’ll make my own decision on rather to hike it or not, I don’t need someone telling me I can’t
Exactly. And if our tax dollars go to the park and maintaining it and it belongs to the people then they have no right to close it.
We where just there last weekend and though we did not hike angels landing we did hike canyon overlook and was amazed at all the people throwing caution into the wind and letting little kids run crazy and close to the edges and also the amount of self absorbed people taking selfie’s from as close to the edge as they could get to get the best Instagram photo . Hell one girl was doing a hand stand on top of a cliff while her friends photograph and egged her on. This death is a shame but putting up more protective measures will only make dumb people dumber
It was kinda crazy how many people were on the trail when I did it. And how many people were going over the edge to little ledges. But I appreciate that you can do it and it’s your responsibility to do it safely. It’s sad that the guy died and my condolences to the family
If your uncomfortable don’t go!
They better not shut it down because of other peoples mistakes
Two people died at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon when we were there. It was their fault. One man took no extra water. Other woman fell. Still haunts me. But warnings were everywhere.
I’m guessing the man died of dehydration?
Was she screaming on the way down?
@@EPHtheChemist I believe she was screaming on the way down...but it stopped rather abruptly.
@@EPHtheChemist wtf why would you ask that?
Having hiked it, we’ll take personal responsibility, it’s not the parks responsibility!!
I will be going there with my son in May and hope to do the Angel’s Landing spur on the last day of our backpacking trip back down the canyon. In your experience, do you think that we would be able to carry lightly-loaded backpacking backpacks to the top of Angel’s Landing and down? Did you see any one with backpacks on? We would not want to leave our packs anywhere due to not trusting varmints and humans.
I will be going there with my son in May and hope to do the Angel’s Landing spur on the last day of our backpacking trip back down the canyon. In your experience, do you think that we would be able to carry lightly-loaded backpacking backpacks to the top of Angel’s Landing and down? Did you see any one with backpacks on? We would not want to leave our packs anywhere due to not trusting varmints and humans.
@@REB4444 have you hiked it?
Agree100%
@@Dakota.Covers I hiked it. Would not wear much of a backpack.
I live 30 miles from there. The problem is it's too crowded up there and very narrow. And everybody is trying to pass each other.
I just did this one last month. Right when they opened it. My buddy and I were the first ones on it. The hike up was perfect. Expect when we came back. People were flooding. Especially people that shouldn’t be on it. Like kids. Older people. Bigger people.
I knew my risks, 3 points of contact. Some people were going up and down sketchy. Not waiting to pass. Let people make their own choices. The chain section starts right at the start of the trail too. Yes people risk it and fall. If you are safe you have high chances.
It is very sad, but hikers who go there, know that....
Big Brother at work.
People should be able to take care of themselves.
Yup!!! Same with my health freedom
Yep. Remember that feminism has taught women they don't need men so now those women push the government into the role they used to rely on their men for. They now expect the government to coddle them, protect them from every micro danger and to provide for them free money.
We all bear the cost of public servants on rescue teams that have to go and retrieve the stupid people. So, it’s not just you doing your thing.
Just 13 people in 21 years? Hardly a crisis. We lose several people every year on Longs Peak in Rocky Mt Nat'l Park. You do something dangerous, you take your chances. People need to take responsibility for themselves and their kids.
Like many places on peoples so-called “bucket list” this place was best described by Yogi Berra: No one goes there anymore, it’s too crowded.
Don’t close the trail... wtf. EVERYBODY knows that all activities come with a risk. If you are not competent in that activity, don’t do it or go get trained first. It’s not like once you start the trail you have no choice but to finish. Once you see the part of the trail that seems beyond your level of skill, turn back around.
An average death rate per visit is preferable to the intervention of the nanny state...
Exactly! They’re going to start closing these parks. Watch!
I would be all for a permit system. The most stressful part is hiking back down when there are lines of 20 people coming up the same chains you're trying to go down. Nobody communicating on the little landing spots between sections and all the sudden you have tons of people shoulder to shoulder trying to get opposite directions. The views were amazing but the crowds honestly ruined it for me. I'll only return in the offseason
The trail isn't forgiving at all and one misstep is all it takes. And not just in that famous narrow section everyone sees on IG, but throughout the trail in the last half mile, there are several points where simply stepping wrong can result in you falling off a cliff. I'm not sure I would do it again. It's honestly a miracle more people haven't fallen off given the large number of visitors
The solution here is not to close the trail. It is an amazing trail. I've hiked the trail many times, I remember my first time up it in 2002, we got up and watched the sunset from the top, it was incredible. I can see limiting volume because there are spots where passing people is challenging. Perhaps more signage on the bottom REALLY highlighting how small the trail can get would get some people to bow out ahead of time. As a climber, I'm of the opinion that when you're in nature, regardless if its back country or parks, you take the safety of yourself and those around you into your own hands. It's tragic that people lost their lives there, but it doesn't mean we should close the trail.
I will be going there with my son in May and hope to do the Angel’s Landing spur on the last day of our backpacking trip back down the canyon. In your experience, do you think that we would be able to carry lightly-loaded backpacking backpacks to the top of Angel’s Landing and down? Did you see any one with backpacks on? We would not want to leave our packs anywhere due to not trusting varmints and humans.
@@Dakota.Covers completely depends on your personal skill, balance, and comfort with heights. I was fine with a daypack. And it's only really the last bit that is thin.
The thing that scared me most was people coming down when you are coming up...if they slipped and fell on you then both of you could easily topple of the edge, just feet away
I was up there once. In the sections where the chains are I witnessed really young stupid people just walking around others as hikers met going up & down hands free, like they were walking down the street. When they were near me I leaned back into the mountain to give them as much room possible. I didn't want them slipping and grabbing me with them. What I'm saying is there are people up there that look like they don't care if they fall. Like they're trying to impress their friends as being fearless when actually they're idiots. At the top they have to get right on the precipice, take a photo, wait let get closer to the edge... Also in my mind was what if some nutcase is up there and decided to shove me off to get a thrill. I don't think it should be closed, but now these days a lot of people are just plain stupid/nutty.
I’ve hiked this trail multiple times and loved each time! My first time, I didn’t feel experienced enough to go all the way, so I turned back. My first time making it to the top, I was with friends. The trail wasn’t too overcrowded, but there were some crazy risk takers at the top. I remember a guy doing a handstand for a photo and having to bail out of it. My heart stopped because I thought I would see someone fall. I’m very happy that didn’t happen. People need to stop taking risks and be more aware of their surroundings and personal limitations. That being said, the last time I did the hike, the crowds were ridiculous! I was alone that time around, but found a couple who were making their way up who were more than happy to let me join their little group. (One of the many things I love about hiking is meeting new people). The entire trip was filled with so many people, it was like waiting in a line at Disneyland. The chained portion had people climbing all over each other or just letting go of the chain in favor of walking around everyone else. The entire thing was terrifying to watch. My little found group took things slow and tried to help others along the way, but there’s only so much we could do. Last I checked, permits have been put in place to hike it, which is absolutely necessary. Stay safe and keep hiking!
The Parks are dangerous, and it's literally impossible to stop that. There's a series of books titled 'Death in the (park name)' and people have been meeting their demise in parks for decades. Life involves risk! Cannot prevent every catastrophe.
Exactly! People are not paying attention!
Meeting their demise climbing mountain 🏔 too.
And could be, like single car crashes into stanchions....
Whoa??? Do you mean Fauci was wrong???
People expect nature to be like Disneyland. Nope.
I was there in 2018 when the 13 year old girl fell to her death. There were way too many people trying to move back from the top as people were trying to go out. People of course don’t like to wait. People were climbing out around over and under. I was with my 15 year old son and decided to just turn back. That night we heard on the news of the young girls death.
I've been up Angel's Landing. It's not that bad. They should just post a climb at your own risk sign and tell people the dangers. Other than that, let them do what they are going to do.
13 is not much considering the overall number of people who have climbed that trail over the past 20 some years.
“The trail has killed people”
Mind blowing statement
I did this hike 2 weeks ago. When you reach the chains it is instantly obvious that there is an element of danger to the final stretch. If you dont trust your feet, your balance, or the weather conditions, dont do it! Otherwise except the risk and take responsibility for your own safety. Just like all the people who did that caused the 3 hour wait just to START the chains the morning I went. And the people who fell from the mountain. Closing the trail isnt the solution to death, personal responsibility is.
I was able to admire this hiking trail from the bus stop below. Angel’s Landing is awesome!
My wife & I did this hike this year in summer. Yes, it was too crowded, but it was beautiful and was worth the hike. As in any hike, you need to be careful and be prepared for the dangers.
I was there a few weeks ago. There were so many people trying to go up and down this narrow trail at same time so they had to cross over each other. One person slipping could have caused a terrible domino fall. Someone was at top calling down that there was no more room for people at top. We opted not to do climb on those conditions. I believe they may need to start having limits or permits
The person talking about the top dangerous trails, looks like he considers ALL trails "dangerous"
Except for the paved trails that he can ride his fat scooter on 🛵
@@himhim3344 He's envious because he can't climb these trails lol
Closing the trail is the wrong answer. This was such a piss poor, superficial analysis. I recommend shutting down Fox 13 News Utah before doing anything else.
If this is on your bucket list make sure it is the last item on the list .
Your safety and well being are your responsibility, whether you’re going to the corner store or climbing a summit. Always maintain situational awareness and act/react as rationally as possible.
'More people die at the Grand Canyon, gee why don’t we shut that down too. Deaths are sad but your never going to keep
Everyone safe from everything
Zion Lodge used to close in October for the winter and it would be like a ghost town. Now it's open year round and there are just too many people.
Any accidental death is tragic but just an observation, they said 13 deaths since 2000 and this was posted in 2021. They also said 641 hikers a day. Simple math tells you the death rate is insanely low. No need to close the trail. People just need to be more cautious and use good judgment. Don't bite off more than you can chew. A person has got to know their limitations.