Sigh.

[kyrielle]

Yet another previous link debunked. Though it makes me happier for the sanity of the jumping photographer, it irks me a little at the guy who posted it with inaccurate info in the descriptions.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/natural/canyonleap.asp

Comments

[flower76.livejournal.com]

While it's not as impressive a drop as the original images imply, I still think it was enough of a drop for me to not want to risk it. In flipflops. Carrying camera equipment. But yes, the impact is diminished.

There's nothing to say that if the jumper had fallen, they wouldn't have rolled off the ledge and fallen further, though.

Definitely interesting to find out more details!

[geordie.livejournal.com]

Even if the fall resulted in a secure landing on the narrow connecting section it still wouldn't be pleasant. But from other pictures, linked from the original photographer, you can see that the fall still gives a significant chance of going all the way to the bottom. It's easy to sit at a desk and say "that's not nearly as dangerous as it looks" but it's a very different thing to stand on the edge and look down.

[kyrielle]

I realize it's still very dangerous. But the original presentation by the photographer, claiming that he was jumping directly over a huge fall, was misleading. I wish he had been honest - it would still have been a deeply impressive set of photos if he'd acknowledged that there was a ledge under there, since that doesn't remove the danger, only lessens it. I wouldn't dare to do that jump even with the ledge and without camera equipment and with proper shoes!

[geordie.livejournal.com]

I take your point, but to me a fall with an early bounce is about as bad as a fall with no early bounce. I think the misrepresentation is small at worst.

[kyrielle]

It sure looks like there's a very real chance that they could stop the fall on the first bounce, though. It's a good drop even so, I imagine he'd've been hurt either way, but it seems likely that he could stop on the ledge.

[dormouse-in-tea.livejournal.com]

So the jumper, while still really really dumb IMO (my opinions are NEVER humble!), no longer makes me wonder how he manages to keep breathing when he has something else to think about. Good to know! XD

[mandydax.livejournal.com]

I did think it when I saw it the first time. For a pillar to be jutting up all the way from the bottom didn't seem likely, especially as the canyon is water-carved at the bottom making a stable base less likely. I knew I should have commented it at the time. Saying so after the fact makes me look like a prat. :P