Sad mountain biker death in Utah

Stay safe as you are hitting those wilderness trails!

https://www.deseret.com/utah/2020/4...-cliff-off-popular-utah-trail-gooseberry-mesa

 

A different article... With several more pictures of the cliff in question. Sad.

https://kutv.com/news/local/mountai...-bike-at-bottom-of-cliff-in-washington-county

 

Condolence to the family and friends of the rider.

No likes.

 

Bummer

 

Oh that’s so sad

 

I remember riding on those cliffs. Pretty much no chance of survival if you go over.

 

That sucks. I hope it wasn’t an “Insta” moment gone bad. Sad no matter what, but especially sad if it was for social media “look at me” purposes. Exposure scares me.

condolences to family and friends. Damn...

 

@Mikie gave me glares and grumbles when I was out on the edges at the South Point of Gooseberry late last year. But I wasn't really that close. And yes, exposure scares me. Riding in the San Gabes on trails like El P, Sunset Ridge, the Merrill's, and Strawberry, to name a few, scare the crap out of me. And yet, I keep riding them...

 

That was my first thought because it's been so prevalent.

It does little good for the grieving, but we yearn to know what happened. I don't see this being a bike accident, but something off the bike as you suggest. A tragedy in any case.

 

There's that one spot on Gooseberry going out to the point where you transition from one huge boulder to another that's a bit close to the western edge for my taste. But the rest of it is pretty sedate and away from the edge.

 

Terrible! Probably not, but I hope it was not intentional in these times?

 

Looking at the pics and video on top , there does not appear to be any reason to be that close to the edge either.

 

I can’t remember the last time my bike didn’t go with me off of something. They said a discarded bike as in still on the top of the cliff. So my Sherlock Holmes in me is suggesting he was taking pics and lost balance. Bummer... Very sad. Mikie no likey.

Edit: I wonder what the annual casualty rate is on Gooseberry each year?

 

I ve ridden the goose.. nice views.. exposure can be avoided...
I'm never going back there

 

I would guess very, very low. This is the first one I've heard of, and I've had friends in the area for a while. I wonder about White Line or Portal - YouTube/GoPro/Instagram hero spots. I refuse to watch any video in which the rider is doing unnecessarily deadly stunts. Riding a bridge rail 500 ft up for example.

I don't want to make assumptions about this poor soul, so I will leave it there.

 

So you do not watch the Redbull Rampage footage?

 

Nobody has died there. Many have fallen. Many minor to moderate injuries. One or two really serious ones over the what - 10 years?

I am talking about when a fall is certain death, like the idiots who ride on the edge of 1000 foot cliffs - actual cliffs, not just steep hillsides. Or the aforementioned bridge railing. Certain death.

 

Is there anything more pointless than watching people ride bikes on TV????

Other than watching TV in the first place, that is....

 

Not pointless if it motivates you to ride or to gain more skills. Or if you find aesthetic beauty in it. . Bonus if it's instead of other pointless TV or posting on a forum!

 

Because of the fatality? I hope not.

I walk past spots regularly where mountain athletes have perished. Some of them I know of. None of those would be happy that people not enjoy the areas.

 

So, if someone were to die (I hope not) while participating at the RR, you would boycott the event?

 

Once it does happen...::not if, but when, it won’t matter cause the event will probably cancel.

 

I reread that post and that's sounds harsh.. the problem w/ communication, intent is sometimes not written well...
I pray for the family of the fallen biker..

The reason I will never go back to Gooseberry is:
1. Although the views and riding are nice, (very nice/spectacular!) I need more downhill and speed. The flat riding, with some small up and downs with steep drops, climbs is fine but not worth the 7 hour drive...
2. Been there two times.. That's enough. Will keep on driving to Moab if going that far..
3. Just like St George trails, Little Creek, even Whole Guacalmole better...

lastly,
the section w/ exposure on the goose is very wide. Not like the Merrills.. Easily avoided by just riding away from cliff edge...

Exposure, ie Strawberry, Mt Wilson.. doesn't bother me at all b/c I close my eyes....

 

Why do you do this?

I don't watch videos where death is the certain result of a mistake. People are posting those videos purely for that reason. Look at me! I'm courageous as hell! The riding isn't difficult, but the circumstances are stupid. It's not an event, it's a "hold my beer" video that encourages one-upsmanship that has horrific consequences for self and loved ones. If you don't understand the difference between somebody hanging out over a cliff for no reason other than social media attention vs a legitimate skills event that is not likely to be lethal, I am surprised. Then again, I never enjoyed watching Jackass either, and I have zero admiration for the two idiots who became famous that way.

People have died in every kind of sporting event, even golf- that's not the point I am making and you know it. But yes, if Rampage regularly resulted in the death of a rider, I would absolutely not watch it - and riders wouldn't compete in it.

 

You don't watch my videos???

 

Thanks for clarifying, @konakc.

Strong trolling, @SnakeCharmer.

 

100% When is a given! I was in awe the first time I seen this event on my computer.

 

[QUOTE="mike, post: 216867, member:

I may not agree w all ur views but I appreciate ur posts...