Safety Changes For 'The Wave'

[joebartels]

HAZ Wave news correspondent Kurt Sedler must be on a hike assignment so I'll fill in...

- safety video revamp

- safety kiosk at trailhead

- translate the safety video and brochures into foreign languages

- revamp BLM website, greater emphasis on the dangers and difficulty

http://www.kutv.com/news/top-stories/st ... 6355.shtml

[Dave1]

I have heard the numbers in the canyon are off the charts. Typical is an employee association for a large corporation will charter a bus, sending 50-100 runners and wannabee runners there for a weekend. You can imagine what 50 at a time will do for the "experience" for anyone encountering that hoard. And the emergency responses required will tax the system. I'm sure no one wants a permit system, but what else is there other than limiting the numbers to a level the land and those charged with managing it can handle?

How about they require the commercial groups to have a permit for dayhikes and just leave the private hikers alone?

[kingsnake]

Aravaipa not only limits the total number of hikers per day, but also party size. Wave could do similar ...

[nonot]

Limiting an inexperienced person's options to go with...only 1 or 2 other inexperienced people? The larger the group, the more likely it is someone will have experience.

[chumley]

How does one determine who is "experienced"?

[CannondaleKid]

The larger the group, the more likely it is someone will have experience.

In my experience, the larger the group the more likely you will find both someone with solid experience as well as those on the opposite end. If a group gets too large it's more likely someone will be separated from the group, whether by inattentiveness and wandering off or simply stupidity. I've personally seen both types and wasted a lot of time searching for them... one of the reasons I no longer hike with large groups. Solo, a pair or a trio max and I'm good.

Oh yeah, if there are two very experienced people in a large group with different ideas... whoa, stand back! Another reason why I stay away from larger groups.

I have no personal experience with The Wave (not yet) but from my understanding of the permit system and how it may (or may not) relate directly to fatalities, I don't see the problem. You can provide all the warning signs, handouts, orientations, maps and such but humans being humans, there will ALWAYS be someone to figure out another way to get into trouble. And the fact is, whether it be out of arrogance, cockiness, youthful 'know-it-all' attitude, carelessness or stupidity, you simply cannot legislate that away.

If anything, sign a waiver when receiving the permit (which may already be the case?) acknowledging responsibility for ones' own actions and that's it.

[chumley]

If anything, sign a waiver when receiving the permit (which may already be the case?) acknowledging responsibility for ones' own actions and that's it.

It's sad that going for a hike in the wilderness would even prompt anybody to consider anything other than 100% self-responsibility! This ain't Disneyland!

[azbackpackr]

If they require permits and add limitations on dayhikes in the Corridor, won't that just encourage the damned gym rats to start doing Hermit, New Hance, Tanner and Grandview? Because that would be a real shame, and also would be impossible to patrol. Imagine a bunch of water-bottle-clutching gym rats on Tanner in mid-summer. You'd have to employ people just to run off the flocks of ravens from picking the eyes off the dead bodies while awaiting the helicopters.