Use Common Sense, Grand Canyon National Park

4 more images

While there are a number of railings on the edge of the Grand Canyon at the most popular locations for the large tourist crowds, there are a number of locations where no railing or wall exists. This is to be expected, after all: since the days of the Great Wall of China no one really wants to put in hundrends of miles of continuous fence. Certainly, there isn't the money to maintain it either.

Therefore, it is necessary for people to use common sense, which unfortunatley isn't that common these days.

There are a number of rock formations which are undercut, and if you walk out on these rocks there isn't much that will keep them from falling off the wall.

Keep track of your children, and don't let them go running towards the canyon edge, as there isn't much to keep them from falling off along the unprotected areas.

There are dozens of warnings all over the Canyon about watching the edge, as well as all over the web site, but even so people still manage to get themselves killed from time to time.

In addition to the edge of the Canyon, you also need to be very careful about dehydration and elevation sickness and other problems related to being in a fairly high altitude climate with a very dry wind blowing. Drink lots of water, and pay attention to what your body is telling you when you feel tired, as at this elevation you will get tired far faster than you are used to.

The Photos:
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1. There's a reason you don't want to get too close to the canyon. Witnesss this rock balanced on the edge of the canyon wall. Should someone decide to climb out on it, not realizing that there isn't much supporting it, there is nowhere to go except down - lots and lots and lots of down.

2. There are dozens of reasons not to stand where this idiot (far right slightly above center) is standing, yet obviously people still get into these spots, and sometimes they get themselves into serious troubles.

3. Signs give warnings everywhere in the Canyon, but every year people require rescue. This one says "Warning: Do not attempt to hike from the Canyon Rim to the River and Back in One Day. Every year hikers suffer serious illness or death from exhaustion."

4: Yet another balanced rock towards the center of the photo.

5: The Grand Canyon is simply too big to put an entire fence around. Don't expect handrails everywhere, and the trails leading down into the canyon are included!

I could not do this and get on the edge of that rock cliff which I imagine is 2,000 feet drop.Vertigo gets to me and why even take the chance? I got woozy looking at them walk out nonchalantly to the edge and sit down. Who would volunteer to pick up the body parts when someone falls? There are an average of 10 deaths a year in the park, and they have had 600 deaths since 1870's that they kept track of.

So, you're driving at the suggested speed limit at the Grand Canyon Village and all of a sudden the car in front of you stops! The driver had seen a deer and the wife beside him wants to take a picture!

You could have hit the back of that Mercedes...thank God you weren't following too closely!

This is an all too common scenario. You have three responses:

1. Honk because you are infuriated
2. Stop and take pictures of the beautiful deer as well
3. Just wait

It's up to you....hehehe....