Worth a Thousand Words but NOT Your Life

Waterfalls abound in our county.  Some are viewed only after a rigorous hike.  There are a few that do not require any hiking at all.  One of those is Looking Glass Falls.  Easily accessible from a parking area, it is one of the most visited waterfalls in the county.

It should seem so obvious that waterfalls are dangerous.  The rocks above the falls are quite slick and often mossy and the current is swift above the falls.  There are signs and fences near all of the falls warning people NOT to climb near the top of the falls.  Every year people die after disregarding the signs.

A local newpaper columnist happened to be visiting Looking Glass Falls last week and took the following photograph.  The man in this photograph is in an extrememly dangerous area.  In order to arrive there he has had to climb over two fences and pass by numerous warning signs.  Yet there he stands.  To take a photograph.  One slip, one misguided step on the wet slippery surface and he will be over the falls to the rocks below.

Photograph by Linda Young of the Transylvania Times

 This is a photograph of the entire waterfall.  The drop from the top to the collecting pool below is sixty feet.  In fact, I took the photograph from the parking area...it's that near the road.

Several people have died or were serious injured at Looking Glass Falls.  Often youthful daring and alcohol are involved.  Yet this man is not young and did not appear to be drinking.  He simply wanted a particular view for his picture.  He escaped that day without injury.  He likely has no idea how stupid and careless he had been.  I hope he thinks the photograph was worth risking his life.