hockey team summer recreation

[Willy '06]

I spent the past four years fishing in almost all the local gorges. For Fall Creek, any flow above about 250 cfs makes it very difficult to cross the stream until you get into the flats down by the high school. The biggest problem is how slippery it gets with all the rock snot. Having come close to doing this myself, I'd imagine that a big problem is when people slip, hit their head, and become unconscious or disoriented and then drown. I almost always wore felt-bottomed or studded boots that really hold the rocks. That said, a lot has to do with common sense and planning out your movements before you make them.

It's really sad that things like this happen, but at the same time I think swimming in the gorges can be a very safe and important tradition at Cornell. I think instead of trying to stop people from recreation in the gorges, maybe signs with safety tips would do more good. I know I would be pretty upset if I was told to get out of the gorges while fishing, or swimming for that matter.

I think a lot of people don't know that Fall Creek actually drains a lot of land, and it sometimes takes a couple days after peak rainfall for the creek to crest. It's easy to overlook a raging river when its 90 degrees and sunny out. So I'm not really sure what can be done, I definitely want to continue using the gorges for my safe enjoyment, but I'm not sure what can be done to help those who don't spend a good number of their days in or around the gorges to be safe.

[RichH]

[quote Willy '06]I think instead of trying to stop people from recreation in the gorges, maybe signs with safety tips would do more good. I know I would be pretty upset if I was told to get out of the gorges while fishing, or swimming for that matter.[/quote]

Yeah, but you're forgetting a word that's pretty big these days: Liability.  Signs with safety tips on it could be seen as a signal that the town/university is condoning such activities that have been outlined here as being dangerous (and possibly illegal.  You may get upset and get your feelings hurt, but to them, being mean and telling you to leave is preferable to having you die and someone suing them as a result.

[KeithK]

[quote RichH][quote Willy '06]I think instead of trying to stop people from recreation in the gorges, maybe signs with safety tips would do more good. I know I would be pretty upset if I was told to get out of the gorges while fishing, or swimming for that matter.[/quote]

Yeah, but you're forgetting a word that's pretty big these days: Liability.  Signs with safety tips on it could be seen as a signal that the town/university is condoning such activities that have been outlined here as being dangerous (and possibly illegal.  You may get upset and get your feelings hurt, but to them, being mean and telling you to leave is preferable to having you die and someone suing them as a result.[/quote]Rich is right.  But that points to a clear course of action.  We should work to pass laws that explicitly limits liability in this type of situation.  If you go swimming in the gorge after a rainstorm and drown it's your fault.  It sucks, but your family shouldn't have the option of a lawsuit, especially on the extremely flimsy argument that safety tips indicate that the local authorities are taking responsibility for your actions.

Life is full of risks.  Embrace that fact and learn to manage risk versus reward.  Don't blame someone else.

[Trotsky]

Better yet, sell the gorge to me.  I will allow you to swim in it, for a very small fee, if you sign a waiver absolving me of all liability if you injure or kill yourself.  I'll even make the more inaccessible parts of it clothing-optional for all you horny little undergrads,  for a modestly higher fee, if you sign a waiver absolving me of all liability if you impregnate or embarrass yourself.

[Rosey]

[quote Trotsky]if you impregnate...yourself.[/quote]
Forget liability; I would think you could make money off this.

Kyle