sinkholes

[dround]

Channel 15 news (Phoenix) last night had a report about 7 active sinkholes around Sedona. I don't know if they are becoming more active or if it was just a slow news day. They kind of made it sound like hikers and tourists would be swallowed up, maybe it is a good reminder to be careful out there.

[chumley]

I saw that report as well. It was more about the safety around the sinkholes and how they are generally not marked or fenced. The report was based on a AZGS report that there should be more warnings posted and the FS saying they have no plans to add warnings.

Excerpt from http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_no ... ing-trails

“This whole area around here is just amazing,” said one of the tourists on a Pink Jeep Tour.

We caught up with the tour at a popular site called the Devil's Dining Room.

“These rocks can be quite loose and you could slip real easily and fall all the way down,” the tour guide explained to the tourists.

While it is a sight to see, it is also a potential hazard. The Devil's Dining Room is actually a sinkhole.

It is one of seven active sinkholes highlighted in a new report published by the Arizona Geological Survey.

The immediate concerns are the sandstone overhangs that could collapse at any time without warning, and the sides that could easily cave in.

“The last thing you want to hear about is a group of people or Jeep that pulled right up to the edge of a sinkhole, said Gootee. “And then you have an accident.”

State geologists agree that at the very least, signs should warn hikers of the risk.

The Forest Service told us there are no plans to put signs up at these locations.

They told ABC15 that they haven’t been asked and there is no money for the signs.

We only found one at the Devil's Kitchen which is the most active having a major collapse 15 years ago.

We also found a fence at the Devils Dining Room to stop hikers from going on the overhang.

[PLC92084]

“The last thing you want to hear about is a group of people or Jeep that pulled right up to the edge of a sinkhole, said Gootee. “And then you have an accident.”

Sounds like someone should issue a warning to French tourists (considering they've been dropping like flies, lately...)

Rester à l'écart du bord!

[chumley]

Keep in mind that television news (websites, magazines, and newspapers too) are not in the business of telling you what's going on. They're in the business of keeping your attention so they can sell (and you will see) advertising. The best way to keep your attention is to scare you about something. Call me a skeptic, but take most of what you see on TV News with a grain of salt. Especially local news.

[dround]

Yah I agree, I like to watch tivo stuff until 10:20- 10:30 or so, then tivo through the news and Nightline by 11:00. That reminds me last nights Nightline had a report about 11 climbers that died on K2, but that's another story.

[azbackpackr]

That K2 thing was in 2008, right?

I agree, there is a lot of prostitution of the news, which leads to over-inflation of the facts.