A heavily traveled trail which frequently makes lists of America's 10 Most Dangerous Hikes. The most cited risk is dehydration, particularly during summer months. But having been down the trail a number of times (winter) one of my major concerns was tourists and inexperienced hikers who may have no concept that there are accepted courtesies relating to things like right of way. As to stepping out of the way for another gentleman to, kind of, squeeze in," you have to be kidding.
We were there a year and a half ago during Thanksgiving week which one would not think would be so crowded but if you take the free bus west and get off at the stops with the tourists, especially mid to late afternoon, its totally insane. People pushing crowding to the edge, trying to climb down/out beyond the railings. It’s a wonder more people don’t fall off. Mr. Mercat and I only road the bus to return from a bike ride. Being on the bikes we could stop where ever we wanted. Confession however, we did take the bikes on trails where they were not supposed to go but walked the dicey bits and in one or two cases, had to carry them (Mr. Mercat God bless him not me). Cool thing about the bikes - the busses have bike racks. Also cool, vets and old people (we qualify both) have priority seating although we had to tell the bus driver who bumped people. Mr. M wouldn’t let me bump people however when we had just ridden our bikes. LOL So we did stand a lot.
why walk when you can ride?.....poor lady I hope angels grabbed her soul mighty quick...horrible...I was at that big canyon west of Taos last month freaking out bird dogging my risk taker boys