Tye River rocks at Crabtree Falls

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell
July 11, 2013

Crabtree Falls ... Rt. 56 through George Washington National Forest

This arched bridge, put in place in 1978 after being shipped from New York State in one piece, crosses the Tye River at the Crabtree Falls hiking area. It used to be the start of the trail but the parking lot is now located behind it so it's not necessary to cross the bridge to begin the hike.

Saturday was a beautiful spring day with temps around 60 so the parking area was completely full. There was a church bus there, and one group was sitting on the ground around their vehicle having a picnic. This is arguably one of the most popular hikes in the George Washington National Forest.

Obey all signs and stay on the trail. At least 28 people have died by falling down the Falls over the past 20 years including a Liberty University student who died two weeks ago when she ventured off the trail. Treacherous, transparent algae grows on the rocks making them extremely slick.

Rt. 56 in the Crabtree Falls area of Nelson County.

Tye River tumbles and falls over boulders along Rt. 56.

My kind of road! But I didn't take a chance with my not-a-4-wheel-drive Nissan. This is Meadows Lane, the route to the upper parking area for Crabtree Falls. Follow the upper stream beyond the Falls. There's great info about this trail Hiking Upward website.

The Lynchburg Daily Progress has a good article about the dangers of the Falls.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
April 20, 2013

Liberty University student dies at Crabtree Falls - UPDATED

UPDATE #1: Nelson County officials have identified the Liberty University student who died at Crabtree Falls on Monday as Faith Helbig, 18, from New Jersey.

According to ABC-13:

[A Nelson County] deputy says a group of six LU students went to the top of the falls to take pictures, and a little before 6 p.m. one of them fell.

The deputy says the group crossed a barrier, and was standing on a part of the falls where they should not have been.

I cannot imagine losing a child. Prayers for Faith's family and friends as they face the days ahead.

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." --Isaiah 41:10

Update #2:  Reporter Steve Hardy with the Lynchburg News & Advance has photos and more about the dangerous conditions of this popular hike in his article, Crabtree Falls' beauty can be dangerous lure. I wish there never again had to be articles written about fatalities at the Falls....

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Crabtree Falls has claimed another victim. Late Monday afternoon an unidentified 18-year-old Liberty University student fell to her death on the treacherous falls. Authorities have not released her identity.

Monday was a beautiful spring day as five Liberty University students hiked the very popular Crabtree Falls trail in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Nelson County. The accident happened around 5 pm but an emergency phone call could not be sent until an hour later due to the lack of cell service in the vicinity, according to reporter Marcella Robertson with NBC-29.

Crabtree Falls, located off the Blue Ridge Parkway, is the highest vertical-drop cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River and, sadly, one of the most dangerous. Its victims over the years have climbed onto the rocks that are deceptively slippery with moss and spray from the falls and slipped to their deaths.

This is the latest in a series of at least 28 deaths at the highest cascading falls east of the Mississippi. Tragedy has become an all-too familiar scene over the years, prompting the park service to post prominent warning signs along the trail for hikers:

DANGER. THE ROCKS ARE COVERED WITH A PLANT GROWTH THAT MAKES THEM EXTREMELY SLIPPERY. TWENTY-FIVE PEOPLE HAVE DIED WHILE CLIMBING ON THESE ROCKS. VIEW THE FALLS FROM DESIGNATED AREAS ONLY.

Fences act as barriers between the trail and the falls. Warnings are posted that hikers between 18 and 25 years old are most likely to fit the profile of those who have plunged to their deaths in the past.

Crabtree Falls, the national forests, and safety

I posted about the March 22 tragedy at Crabtree Falls when a 26-year-old University of Richmond law student fell to his death after slipping on the falls. Warning signs were posted of the danger as well as fences in place between the trail and the rocks.

How safe do we want to make the national forests? Do we want a playpen for outdoor enthusiasts ... or do we want personal responsibility to be the rule of thumb for anyone enjoying our natural resources?

Someone commented to the post and I responded. It opens the discussion of safety and personal responsibility.

The commenter said:

I would not call that a "SAFETY WALL" by ANY means.

I responded:

Whatever you may call it the fact remains that it is a barrier between the trail and the falls. With plenty of signs warning of the danger, and with fences in place, it is obvious the falls are dangerous and should be avoided.

I have hiked that trail. I have been to the falls. The very fact they tell how many have died is enough deterrent for me ... I'm not a gambler and especially not with my life.

My prayers go to this young man's family but the fact remains ... he was 26 years old, a law student, and he chose to ignore the signs and the fence and take his chances. It's sad.

The national forests are wild areas that are not safe. We enter at our own risk, and our own behavior may determine if we return safely.

I've spent my entire life in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains hiking and camping. I am responsible for my choices and I try to respect the national forest and behave responsibly both toward it and myself.

"Safety" wall or not, I would never climb onto those rocks at Crabtree Falls. It is too dangerous as proven by 25 deaths over the years.

What do others think?

Crabtree Falls ... 25 victims have fallen to their deaths

The signs posted at Crabtree Falls in Nelson County are prominent for all to read:

DANGER
THE ROCKS ARE COVERED WITH A PLANT GROWTH THAT MAKES THEM EXTREMELY SLIPPERY. TWENTY-THREE PEOPLE HAVE DIED WHILE CLIMBING ON THESE ROCKS. VIEW THE FALLS FROM DESIGNATED AREAS ONLY.

Fences act as barricades between the trail and the falls. Warnings are posted that those between 18 and 25 years old are most likely to fit the profile of those who have plunged to their deaths in the past.

And, yet, the lure of the falls entices many to climb over the barriers and out onto the rocks.

Saturday's victim, 26-year-old Robert Slimak, had climbed over the safety wall and then slipped on the moss-covered rocks, causing him to fall into the river where he was swept over the falls to his death on the rocks 150-200 feet below. It was a tragic ending to what had been a fun-filled weekend with college buddies.

He was victim # 25.

Crabtree Falls claims another victim

Crabtree Falls, located off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Nelson County, is the highest vertical-drop cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River and, sadly, one of the most dangerous. Its victims over the years have climbed onto the rocks that are deceptively slippery with moss from the spray of the water and slipped to their deaths 150 feet below. Saturday, it claimed its latest victim.

Robert Slimak, 26, a student at the University of Richmond's law school, fell around 3:30 Saturday afternoon, slipping off the rock and plunging to his death while hiking with college friends. His wife said it was one of his favorite places to visit in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Signs are posted warning of the dangers of climbing on the rocks, and a split rail fence is in place as a barrier between the trail and the rocks ... but many hikers enjoy the up-close feeling of the falls.

Our sympathy goes out to Robert Slimak's family. Read more about it in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, page B5.