[at-l] Warning To All Hikers

[jbullar1 at twcny.rr.com (Jim Bullard)]

That's more than a little over the top... or is it?

At 07:09 AM 10/19/2004 -0400, Bror8588@aol.com wrote:

>The leader of the Harriman Hikers Group (Harriman State Park, NY) sent this
>to her list of hikers.  She found it at the entrance of NRP.  Does it have
>application for the AT?
>
>
>   WARNING!! ALL GUESTS OF NELSON ROCKS PRESERVE MUST READ THIS!
>
>  Nature is unpredictable and unsafe. Mountains are dangerous. Many
>books have been written about these dangers, and there's no way we can list
>them all here. Read the books. Nelson Rocks Preserve is covered in steep
>terrain with loose, slippery and unstable footing. The weather can make
>matters worse. Sheer drops are everywhere. You may fall, be injured or die.
>There are hidden holes. You could break your leg. There are wild animals,
>which may be vicious, poisonous or carriers of dread diseases. These include
>poisonous snakes and insects. Plants can be poisonous as well. We don't do
>anything to protect you from any of this. We do not inspect, supervise or
>maintain the grounds, rocks, cliffs or other features, natural or otherwise.
>Real dangers are present even on trails. Trails are not sidewalks. They can
>be, and are, steep, slippery and dangerous. Trail features made or enhanced
>by humans, such as steps, walls and railings (if any) can break, collapse,
>or otherwise fail catastrophically at any time. We don't promise to inspect,
>supervise or maintain them in any way. They may be negligently constructed
>or repaired. They are unsafe, period. Live with it or stay away. Stay on the
>trails whenever possible. The terrain, in addition to being dangerous, is
>surprisingly complex. You may get lost. Carry food, water and first aid
>supplies at all times. Rocks and other objects can fall from the cliffs.
>They can tumble down slopes. This can happen naturally, or be caused by
>people above you, such as climbers. Rocks of all sizes, including huge
>boulders, can shift, move or fall with no warning. Use of helmets is advised
>for anyone approaching the rock formations. They can be purchased or rented
>at Seneca Rocks. They won't save you if you get hit by something big or on
>another part of your body. A whole rock formation might collapse on you and
>squash you like a bug. Don't think it can't happen. Weather can be
>dangerous, regardless of the forecast. Be prepared with extra clothing,
>including rain gear. Hypothermia, heat stroke, lightning, ice and snow, etc.,
>can kill you. Rain can turn easy terrain into a deathtrap. If you scramble
>in high places (scrambling is moving over terrain steep enough to use your
>hands) without proper experience, training and equipment, or allow children
>to do so, you are making a terrible mistake. Even if you know what you're
>doing, lots of things can go wrong and you may be injured or die. It happens
>all the time. The Preserve does not provide rangers or security personnel.
>The other people in the preserve, including other visitors, our employees,
>agents, and guests, and anyone else who might sneak in, may be stupid,
>reckless, or otherwise dangerous. They may be mentally ill, criminally
>insane, drunk, using illegal drugs and/or armed with deadly weapons and
>ready to use them. We aren't necessarily going to do anything about it. We
>refuse to take responsibility. If you climb, you may die or be seriously
>injured. This is true whether you are experienced or not, trained or not,
>equipped or not, though training and equipment may help. It's a fact,
>climbing is extremely dangerous. If you don't like it, stay at home. You
>really shouldn't be doing it anyway. We do not provide supervision or
>instruction. We are not responsible for, and do not inspect or maintain,
>climbing anchors (including bolts, pitons, slings, trees, etc.) As far as we
>know, any of them can and will fail and send you plunging to your death.
>There are countless tons of loose rock ready to be dislodged and fall on you
>or someone else. There are any number of extremely and unusually dangerous
>conditions existing on and around the rocks, and elsewhere on the property.
>We may or may not know about any specific hazard, but even if we do, don't
>expect us to try to warn you. You're on your own. Rescue services are not
>provided by the Preserve, and may not be available quickly or at all. Local
>rescue squads may not be equipped for or trained in mountain rescue. If you
>are lucky enough to have somebody try to rescue you or treat your injuries,
>they may be incompetent or worse. This includes doctors and hospitals. We
>assume no responsibility. Also, if you decide to participate in a rescue of
>some other unfortunate, that's your choice. Don't do it unless you are
>willing to assume all risks. By entering the Preserve, you are agreeing that
>we owe you no duty of care or any other duty. We promise you nothing. We do
>not and will not even try to keep the premises safe for any purpose. The
>premises are not safe for any purpose. This is no joke. We won't even try to
>warn you about any dangerous or hazardous condition, whether we know about
>it or not. If we do decide to warn you about something, that doesn't mean we
>will try to warn you about anything else. If we do make an effort to fix an
>unsafe condition, we may not try to correct any others, and we may make
>matters worse! We and our employees or agents may do things that are unwise
>and dangerous. Sorry, we're not responsible. We may give you bad advice.
>Don't listen to us. In short, ENTER AND USE THE PRESERVE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
>And have fun! NRP Management
>
>       ?2002 Nelson Rocks Preserve
>
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