I've recently been adding comments to blogs and articles dealing with the recent deaths at Yosemite's Vernal Falls. It is my opinion that these deaths were the result of a disconnect between those involved and the physical world. It's all too obvious that some, if not all those involved were acting irresponsibly. I've suggested that they were not consciously aware of being irresponsible. I think they were incapable of perceiving that they were in any danger at all. This may or may not, in their case, have been reinforced by this group being a church group and thus protected by God. I believe this an ubiquitous attitude in America.

This is not to say that all risky behaviour is due to this disconnect. The best part of my life was spent hiking about in the Sierra Nevadas, particularly in and around Yosemite National Park. I can't say how often I visited the top of Vernal Falls but I can say I never crossed over the guard rails. There were a number of occasions, however, that I did engage in what could be considered risky behaviour. This photo of the Kuna Glacier's bergschrund illustrates one such moment. I was, however, very much aware of just how dangerous this location was. Fortunately for me I never fell into any crevasses but it could have happened.

The significance of this disconnect goes far beyond accidents such as what occurred at Vernal Falls. I maintain that this disconnect explains much of why Americans are so resistant to accepting the fact of human induced global warming. Nature, for a large number of Americans, is something that exists apart from us. People are here to make use of it, extract what we need from it, and not worry about the ramifications of our actions. Just trust in God and everything will be just fine.

And so it goes...