Grand Canyon Jumper

The urban legend pictures of the guy jumping one-handed, shod in flip-flops, from the knob in the Grand Canyon, are finally dealt with <a href="http://www.snopes.com/photos/natural/canyonleap.asp">here</a>.

How 'bout here: http://www.snopes.com/photos/natural/canyonleap.asp

still looks pretty perilous, the second ledge, from what it appears doenst look like a reall good place to land either,,,

Hey, who cares about the potential broken arm or cuts and scrapes. Who among us would make this jump carrying $5,000 worth of equipment?

Am I the only one who thinks this guy is taking idiotic risks that could end up getting us all restricted from access to 'somewhat' more sensible locations?!?

Ed: I don't see how what he did is any more of an idiotic risk than jaywalking, driving too fast, obesity, smoking, and many other things that people do on a daily basis. I don't understand why we need to come down like this on people who have made and are managing their own decisions. He made the decision, he took the risk of taking a small fall, and he obviously walked away fine. Where's the problem? Frankly, I'll take guys like this over a crowd of lemmings anyday.

Is it any more idiotic than living in New Orleans (or rebuilding it) below sea level in a hurricane path, or any number of other known risks (as Michael mentioned - obesity, smoking, etc.) with fairly high mortality rates (as far as I know this little leap had not killed anyone in recent memory) that people readily take each day?

We each take risks and play the odds when we deem the payoff worth it. A life with no risk is also a life with no achievement or substance or meaning. The worst thing that can happen to you is nothing.

Guy

As one who does occasionally jaywalk and drive too fast and indulges in a variety of other sins, I do think that taking a risk like this guy took is a bit over the top. I used to rock climb, ski professionally and have done mountain rescue too. I do however take risks that I feel are worth the possible payoff to me. Jumping like this guy did seems like it would also put a lot of other people at risk if he didn't make it (and I'd be surprised if anyone argued that he was well prepared) and expected others to climb down rescue him or retrieve his remains.

Risk - yes. Risk that can put others into harms way - no thanks. Just my opinion.

Ed, I would still argue that driving too fast puts others at much greater risk. If he plunged into the canyon there may be 3-4 experienced and trained SAR folks who will go after him. Out on the freeway you're potentially risking dozens. A high speed accident will likely impact many more people than a solitary person dropping into a canyon.

Guy

Ed: when you used to rock climb and ski, you were also in jeopardy of putting others at risk had you had an accident, correct?

"Over the top" risk is for the risk-taker to determine, not anyone else. It's pretty obvious to me that the 'GC jumper' was taking a risk that he also thought was "worth the possible payoff", just as you have in the past and do presently. We all do. Pots can't call the kettle black.

Michael,

"Pots can't call the kettle black" -- they can and do all the time, and it's a risk I'm willing to take in saying so :-).

Regards, Simon

I won't argue personal risk thing: He made his choice. However, such antics have led to bad outcomes for the victim and many others. In the present case, he could have had an uncontrolled flight into terrain, required rescue and medical care, and then...his faimily sues the park for not protecting this guy from himself. It has happened!

The next thing we know is the freedoms of others are restricted by uniformed rangers operating under ill-advised ordinances, regulations, or what have you.

I recommend that all parks put up a big sign at the entrance, to wit:

"Your government has set aside this park for your enjoyment. We heartily encourage you to use it wisely. However, we cannot protect you from yourself. Therefore we will not be held accountable if you do something goofy."

-PB

This all comes back to a very common attitude in this country that people go off somewhere and do something, and when something goes wrong, they expect to be rescued. Look at the hoopla in the news over the mountain climbers and the family that got lost in the mountains.
Personally, I'd just as soon that they left me alone. I've been in several situations where we were helped out by friends, and we did the same thing for them later on. No government involvement; they never even knew about it. That's how people used to do things.