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Photo Of Hikers At Grand Canyon National Park Illustrates Why "Rangers Get Gray Hair"

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By Jim Burnett - March 11th, 2015

The park website at Grand Canyon National Park includes a warning about the potential for icy trails at the top of the home page, under a red and white banner titled "Park Alerts." I think it's safe to assume similar information is dispensed at visitor centers and other locations, so the photo below, posted on the park's Facebook page, helps illustrate why rangers get gray hair.

The full text of the warning reads: "Walking Trails at Grand Canyon May Be Slick Due to Snow & Ice - Especially in Shaded Areas. The park recommends slip-on type shoe traction devices, while walking on trails and pathways. Snow that melts during the day can freeze at night making pathways very slick in the morning. This can occur even if the pathway has been cleared."

Posted warnings or not, is it possible that some visitors just don't know "when to say when"?

 

Comments

Submitted by Gary Wilson on March 11, 2015 - 9:07am.

You don't have to be a greenhorn, especially if you have common sense.  Gotta say, i'm a huge fan of microspikes - it's around 55.00 for a good pair, and you can walk right over these icy trails with little problem.  Yak tracks are also decent, but don't grip as well.  Over my time, i've seen so many people put themselves into dangerous situations like this.  It's easy going down, but let's see them come back up. It's not uncommon in National Parks encountering people hiking in 0 degree weather, on frozen icy trails in nikes, and blue jeans, etc.  Then they get their jeans wet, and it all the sudden goes from a moderately threatening situation to a dangerous life threatening situation. 


Submitted by JT_gnp90 on March 11, 2015 - 10:23am.

  I CAN'T BELIEVE IT !!!!  I think I'd be on my hands & knees --- but I wouldn't be there in the first place.


Submitted by wild places on March 11, 2015 - 2:07pm.

I'd be on my hands and knees too! Hopefuly this is where they decided to either turn around or get out some extra traction aids for their shoes. If not it looks like that next bend might result in an express trip to the river.


Submitted by Zebulon on March 11, 2015 - 4:14pm.

Candidates to the Darwin award.


Submitted by Amarillobymorning on March 11, 2015 - 4:59pm.

Ah, yes, a chance to improve the gene pool.


Submitted by trailadvocate on March 12, 2015 - 9:19am.

Much safer riding a Grand Canyon Mule, seriously.  


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