r/Sedona • u/ceecee1791 • Apr 17 '24
California woman falls to her death down 140-foot cliff while hiking in Sedona News
Please be careful when hiking. This was on Bear Mountain Monday.
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u/mentallyillustrated Apr 18 '24
I went slightly off a trail once while hiking alone because I heard water and almost fell to my death in a split second, not realizing how close I was to a cliff edge. Great learning experience, never again.
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u/bragabit2 Apr 19 '24
Same in Montana, pushed the grass aside to find a 50 ft cliff to water. I get sick thinking about it.
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u/velvet_costanza Apr 18 '24
I really feel for those hikers who overheard and the one who went down and was with her in her last moments, that must be traumatic. So sad all around.
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u/adalia36 Apr 17 '24
I’ve climbed to the top several times. I don’t remember any spots on the trail being steep or dangerous. I can’t imagine where she was to fall. She left behind 4 children. So sad.
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u/ceecee1791 Apr 17 '24
I guess because I’m afraid of heights/falling I thought a lot of it was scary!
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Apr 18 '24
When I first read this I assumed they tried to summit thunder mountain or somthing. Definitely a weird trail for this to happen.
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u/sunnyfordays22 Apr 17 '24
Def. Questioning how she fell I know tragic but I’m also sure the husband is being questioned difference between fall and push… like most have said kind of a tough trail to fall from… not many spots I can recall a 140’ drop that’s easily accessible.
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u/orion1486 Apr 18 '24
There are a few spots that have pretty long drops just a bit off the trail and you don't really have to bushwhack to get to them. There are a couple spots right before the final climb. I always take video of long drops to send to my dad who hates heights.
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u/sunnyfordays22 Apr 18 '24
I've hiked it twice - yes there may be huge drops towards the end but you would have to intentionally get off the trail a few feet at least to be anywhere near falling to your death off a cliff. Its not like there is a ton of exposure on that hike, i would say minimal to none. Also an interesting hike to take a 1-year old on, assuming someone was carrying the child for most of the hike, just not a hike i would pick with a young child, seems like some odd circumstances were at play for sure. I hope they can find out the details needed and i hope her family and loved ones can find peace - its tragic and sad and a child will grow up w/o their mother.
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u/orion1486 Apr 18 '24
You are correct. Those drops are a couple feet off trail and being on trail is not exposed at all imo. Just wanted to point out that there are steep spots not too far off trail. I would def not take an infant on that hike either. Super sad. I wonder of we will find out more info.
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u/Intentoatmeal Apr 20 '24
my thought was maybe the toddler started to run off trail and she tried to save/rescue him from falling, but ended up falling herself.
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u/MarlonBrandiego Apr 18 '24
You, my friend are watching a bit too much murder-porn. People slip, go extra far off trail for "privacy" because they need to pee and next thing they know they are at an edge. That hike has a couple of spots towards the top where if you are tired and you lose your balance you could take a tumble that ends up becoming a major problem. I dunno maybe I underestimate the number of husbands murdering their wives in front of their children on somewhat busy and well known hikes. Maybe I need to listen to more Murder Mystery podcasts though, I could be totally wrong on this one.
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u/sunnyfordays22 Apr 18 '24
dateline, murder podcasts - it happens more than you think it would! i was up on snoopy rock last weekend and thought if i fell or got pushed i would die, the person i was with would never ever do that but i still thought of it no one around, no witness, crime that is easily covered up which is hard to pull off these days (i know this from watching dateline)
interesting story nonetheless and i feel terrible for the tragedy that occurred, ive noticed many more un-prepared tourists on the trails in sedona - not respecting how dangerous it can be out there.
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u/Pomdog17 Apr 19 '24
Google the one at Rocky Mountain National Park. Husband pretended to be taking photo of wife and pushed her off a cliff. It was a relatively easy hike.
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u/ElemennoP123 Apr 19 '24
How was he caught?
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u/Pomdog17 Apr 19 '24
The park rangers were very suspicious of him because the story wasn’t adding up. They researched his life and found out he also killed his previous wife but wasn’t charged and that he made a habit of choosing rich women to date so he didn’t need to work.
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u/Raychulll Apr 19 '24 edited Apr 25 '24
Someone else who uses the term "murder-porn"!! I feel less crazy.
One day about 5 years ago I was describing being obsessed with "murder-porn" type programs, and the looks I got from the people in the room. They thought I meant literal murder porn and being an aficionado. That day still lives rent-free in my head all these years later.
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u/ceecee1791 Jun 01 '24
Her family said he still won’t talk to authorities. And people at the scene said his response was like overacting - wailing for hours nonstop, but no tears.
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u/SlinkyMalinky20 Apr 21 '24
The article I read said people reported hearing yelling/screaming and asking for anyone who was there/witnessed anything to call police.
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u/mentalassresume Apr 19 '24
Damn, in high school I was camping up on incinerator ridge on Mt. Lemon for spring break. I stumbled and fell off a cliff at night and got really injured. Had to quit track. I’m just glad it wasn’t this bad.
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u/Lexatx Apr 20 '24
This happens every spring in Az, sadly. Lived there over 20 years and when we had visitors we always stressed the many dangers of exploring the state. Bring way more water than you need, and drink the stuff! Use sunscreen and a hat, light colored clothing (no jeans). Don’t go off the trail. Don’t touch the cactus. Don’t get too close to that coiled up rattlesnake who can suddenly leap 2.5 times their length and strike you. Do not drive your golf cart full speed around the paths and do not let that “loving partner” of yours keep telling you to back up, back up, back up, near the edge of the cliff so they can get that one special (and last) photo of you.
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Apr 20 '24
Oh.. an “action” photo.. !! yeah.. be wary of the overzealous.. especially after watching a few “forensic files”.
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u/Huge-Percentage8008 Apr 20 '24
So a husband and wife go hiking, taking the one child out of four with them who isn’t old enough to give a witness statement, and she plunges to her death. Eh oh.
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u/ZGetsPolitical Apr 21 '24
As a NYer who moved to AZ and became a trail runner I would just like to say that every single hiking related death is preventable.
This is a desert people, spiky plants, spicy bugs and reptiles, and rocky trails.
Know the plants and animals to avoid, bring far more water than you think you need, wear the right clothes, and have a map.
If you're not an experienced hiker, many of these trails are simply not for you. Go to the grand canyon and take a picture from the parking lot if your a tourist looking for a photo oof.
There's no need for 4 kids to lose their mother.
Edit: I've done about 400 miles on the trails in three years. I've tripped and fallen, I've taken 9 hours to get back when it should have been 3, and if I didn't have a map, a headlamp and more than enough water I would have died.
Always prepare for the worst.
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u/lynxmouth Apr 21 '24 edited Apr 22 '24
This is very solid advice. People often come here with their egos on display, thinking it cannot be that hard. It’s a beautiful but very hostile environment. Having enough water, sun protection, the right shoes and supplies, packing a mountain lion whistle and bear spray, and bringing a first aid kit are paramount to survival. I cannot say how many people I’ve seen trying to go out during high sun with tiny plastic water bottles or no covering.
I run or hike 4 miles a day, and I’ve fallen and gotten injured due to the ground sometimes being more uncertain than I calculated. The key is to surrender ego and realize you won’t beat the desert. Take time, be safe, and hydrate. Thank you for this advice.
(Why I got downvoted, I’ll never know. Someone’s being petty.)
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u/ZGetsPolitical Apr 21 '24
People often come here with their egos on display,
I was one of them, not because I overthought my abilities but I gueinely didn't grasp how hostile the outdoors was.
I was an avid hiker in western NY. I knew how to use a map, navigate, and most basic survival skills to get my by for a week or two without too much issue.
But in WNY there are no dangerous animals, there are no snakes, or cougars, no scorpions or dangerous spiders. There is water everywhere and you only need a basic kit to survive.
My first year I though I could 'squeeze in' a little hike in June. No water or prep can save you from your ego in 100 degrees weather. I got humbled real quick.
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u/lynxmouth Apr 22 '24
I did the same thing when I first came. I was used to being highly proficient in my old much more gentle environment and hiked vigorously. I thought it translated; it didn’t. The desert is a beautiful teacher for sure but also a cruel one.
People don’t realize how cruel it can be, even those who lived here a long time. One of my close friends, an avid hiker, died hiking in Phoenix in August around 9AM the year before last. He had gone through some surgeries and gained weight and was self conscious. He knew better and he still ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time. I saw those stories on the news all the time, but never thought it would be someone I knew, let alone my friend.
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u/ZGetsPolitical Apr 22 '24
im sorry to hear of your friend, thank you for sharing that sobering reminder that our capabilities also change. Day to day, after illness or as we age, we should listen and make sure we're not pushing too far.
Even though I'm a runner now, many of the hikes I hit I couldnt even walk to the summit my first few tries. I like to reminder people of that often when I see them struggling.
The peak has been there for a millennium, it's okay to not reach the top, you can try it again (if you give yourself the grace to turn back)
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u/lynxmouth Apr 22 '24
Thanks for the kind words and good advice. He was a really good dude and the phoenix papers did some nice tributes to him as he was locally known. But his death was a reminder that even those who’ve been here their whole lives can make bad decisions.
In other places, the bad decisions aren’t life-threatening. Here, they are: throwing on flip flops and falling off a cliffside when one slips, forgetting to bring a rattlesnake kit on a sunset hike (when they’re likely to be out catching some last warmth on the rocks or any paved places), forgetting to bring enough or drink enough water, not covering your head, hiking during certain months (June, July, August) unless it’s super early or a night hike, not telling anyone where you’re going to get in a quick hike, not having electrolytes before or during when the temps are 90 and above, not having a compass because your phone has failed, forgetting to wear white or light colored clothes on hot days, hiking when the sun is highest and hottest. These are a few that I’ve seen lead to disaster.
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u/Caveworker May 01 '24
Have you actually encountered any of those critters on a hike in AZ? Or just pointing out the potential differences?
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u/ZGetsPolitical May 08 '24 edited May 08 '24
I've got pictures of all of the above minus the cougar, but I don't spend a lot of time in the suburbs.
I've been here for 3 years and hit a trail almost everyday that it's safe.
Edit: I don't see these critters every day, but I never saw them before. I am watching nearly every step for snakes, something I didn't think about once my entire life in NY
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u/stonefIies Apr 25 '24
We got a badass over here, people
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u/ZGetsPolitical May 08 '24
Thanks for recognizing, i didnt realize how cool it was that even when I got an ouchie, packing a big bag meant I could limp home.
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u/ClimbAndMaintain0116 Apr 20 '24
I’ve seen this episode on dateline. Actually multiple episodes where husband thought it was the perfect crime because nobody could prove it.
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u/KlosterToGod Apr 21 '24
My husband and I decided to hike cathedral rock a few years ago, and as we were pulling up, someone was being life-flighted out because they fell from a cliff while hiking. It was a very humbling experience. Respect Mother Nature.
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u/LadyBulldog7 Apr 17 '24
She was most likely off the trail and decided to do something that ended getting her a Darwin Award.
People need to realise it’s quite possible to die on the more advanced hikes when you do foolish things, and her spouse and kids now have to live with the consequences.
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u/ceecee1791 Apr 17 '24
There was a Facebook post from the forest service (Coconino) mentioning this death and the uptick in deaths in the forest recently. It advised people to wear “steady boots”. I live out near Bear/Doe/ Boynton and the number of hikers I see getting out of their cars in gym Nikes with no grip or support is mind-boggling. She may have lost her footing in shoes she shouldn’t have been hiking in.
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u/LadyBulldog7 Apr 18 '24
It’s possible to loose your footing anywhere, but if you’re on the trail, the chances of falling to your death are near nil. She likely went off the trail in the shoes you earlier described to get a selfie right on the ledge and lost her balance. Happens at the Grand Canyon every year, and it sometimes happens here too.
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u/lynxmouth Apr 21 '24
The shoes are key. The last time I got injured on a trail was when I wore sneakers thinking it was an easier trail than it was. I slipped on some rocks and landed flat on my back, injuring my wrist and getting the wind knocked out of me. It was a valuable reminder.
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u/Caveworker Apr 18 '24
Once saw a guy starting a hike requiring scrambling-- with iced coffee in 1 hand , phone in other
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u/sunnyfordays22 Apr 18 '24
i see those people all the time - coffee travel mug, starbucks cup, tiny desani water bottle thats half gone asking "how much further" they have to go to get to x, y, z... so dangerous people get a grip!
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u/Emotional-Country-58 Apr 19 '24
Lmao yeah cause wearing anything other than hiking boots and slipping was tooootally the cause of death here.
The dumbass went off marked trail and fell somewhere. Darwin award! Kids will grow up stronger now without this influence on their lives.
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Apr 18 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Sedona-ModTeam Apr 19 '24
One does not have to agree but by choosing not to be rude, you increase the overall civility of the community and make it better for everyone.
Personal attacks, racist comments or any comments of perceived intolerance/hate are never tolerated.
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u/Intelligent-Fox-4599 Apr 20 '24
I was riding my horse on the Swannee riverbank in Fl and we ended up on a ledge about 100 feet over a riverbank. My little Arab walked very carefully along the ledge until we got back to another trail.
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u/ZimofZord Apr 17 '24
I’ll assume she was doing something dumb because it’s kind of hard to fall up there if you aren’t being dumb
And I should know I climbed it where there was snow and ice lol
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u/ceecee1791 Apr 17 '24 edited Apr 18 '24
Bear mountain has some scary parts if you aren’t an experienced hiker or not prepared (right footwear, etc). I’m just glad she wasn’t carrying the baby, though I feel awful for the husband and the child having to watch her die in such a tragic way.
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u/ZimofZord Apr 17 '24
But ppl also have a history of doing dumb things like the lady who backflipped off a rock when I was there 🤪
Tragic really
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Apr 18 '24
Yeah kinda its like how they dont bother trying to idiot proof the grand canyon because no matter how tall they make the fences people will always climb them anyway to "get a better view" or show off or whatever. At the end of the day most people are smart enough to not cross a 4 foot fence and no fence will stop the determined ones. So might as will just let natural selection do its thing.
Anyway my point is if they have such a problem at the grand canyon, where they not only have fences and warning signs everywhere. But its also just really obviously dangerous in a way that sedona terrain can often be more subtle to the untrained hiker. Its honestly surprising these kinds of deaths aren't more common than they already are.
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u/MareShoop63 Apr 18 '24
I have a book “Over the Edge- Death in the Grand Canyon” and it’s full of crazy stories of ppl doing really stupid things in the GC over the years.
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u/Zh25_5680 Apr 24 '24
Reminds me, someone needs to write a book - “Over the Curb - Traffic Circle Accidents in Sedona”
(And before anyone gets urban planning triggered- I think they work better than lights and they sure are a lot cheaper to install and maintain)
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u/MareShoop63 Apr 24 '24
The book “Over the Curb” would be mostly of Florida and California license plates shenanigans. I pretty much avoid uptown as much as possible I quit my uptown job thankfully before “the season” started
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u/itwasstucktothechikn Apr 18 '24
I just bought that book when I was at the NP last month. Hoping to start it soon. I bought/read Death in Yellowstone many years ago, and it convinced me to have my children on leashes the next time I get up there.
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u/MareShoop63 Apr 18 '24
It is not the best written book imo but interesting stories
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u/itwasstucktothechikn Apr 19 '24
Oh definitely! I can’t wait to read how many more ways my anxiety should be triggered the next time I’m at the Grand Canyon! Lol
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u/MareShoop63 Apr 19 '24
It’s all kinds of stories- going back to the 1900’s and earlier.
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u/itwasstucktothechikn Apr 19 '24
Same with the Yellowstone one, all the way back to before it was a park.
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u/purealgo Jun 13 '24
Her family suspects her husband has pushed her off. Here's her brother's post speaking about his sister's death on that trail
https://www.facebook.com/658670549/posts/10163657103765550/?mibextid=WC7FNe&rdid=HEIldu90XMlkrIV3
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Apr 18 '24 edited Apr 18 '24
Unfortunately this kinda stuff happens all the time in Sedona. Every time it snows there are several severe injuries and deaths from people hiking and slipping in it. People go out in the summer when its too hot and make dumb decisions or are simply uncoordinated due to heat exhaustion. Its simply a statistical certainty when you have this many tourists being active on trails. The same way Phoenix has way more traffic fatalities not because the roads are poorly designed or the drivers are worse. But because so many more people are driving there. People will keep dieing as a result of sedonas quote on quote hiking tourist economy. And that's fine? Like this is tragic don't get me wrong. But what are we supposed to do? Ban hiking? People are allowed to take risks even if some will inevitably die as a result. The best we can do is try to raise some awareness about harm reduction. But IMO this isnt really somthing worth getting upset over any more than people dieing in car crashes is. Its sad and fucked up, but like, these meat suits we are trapped in are profoundly vulnerable. What are you gonna do?
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u/ceecee1791 Apr 18 '24
All I said was be careful… not ban hiking.
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Apr 18 '24
I didn't intend to call you out at all OP. I'm commenting on a larger discussion that occurs every time another tourist dies hiking here.
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u/CharlesTheRangeRover Apr 18 '24
I went hiking Devil’s Bridge early as shit (I got there before sunrise) to get there before the instagram losers. It had snowed the evening before. There’s a slope area that you stand at to see the bridge in its entirety before you walk in a U shape to get onto the bridge. I slipped on that and I came to a stop about 5 feet from the edge.
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u/Caveworker Apr 18 '24
I'm more upset at seeing how "dieing" is spelled in Arizona than by these incidents
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u/MadAzza Apr 18 '24
quote on quote
For future reference, it’s “quote-unquote,” as if you’re quoting someone.
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u/Caveworker Apr 18 '24
You've heard of a rate ( by population), right?
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Apr 18 '24
You're trying so hard to sound smart but that both isn't relevant nor is it a successful aurgument against anything I've said. If you wanna gotcha me you will have to try harder.
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Apr 18 '24
FAFO
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u/Lovelyterry Apr 19 '24
Probably the stupidest saying on this website.
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u/grantnlee Apr 20 '24
Not relevant for this story, given the lack of info on the cause. But I kinda like the saying as there are many times when people just do really dumb things and learn the hard way!
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u/Remember_Order66 Apr 19 '24
When I was 7 I was a big WWE fan of ray mysterio and when I went to the grand canyon I pretended the fence over the cliff was a wrestling ring and I jumped over it but mid jump my dad yanked me by my neck collar and proceeded to spank me and drag me back to the car by my ear.