EMERGENCY OFFICIALS: "THE SAFEST WAY TO ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF THE WATERFALLS IS FROM A DISTANCE."
Henderson County's Emergency Management Director Rocky Hyder made that observation on WHKP several years ago...and sadly, since then, lives have been lost around the beautiful waterfalls of Western North Carolina.
Against the backdrop of one of Transylvania County’s most iconic waterfalls – High Falls in DuPont State Recreational Forest – park, forest and emergency management leaders will gather on Friday, June 2, at 11 am to spread the word about waterfall safety.
This press event is sponsored by the Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority (TCTDA), which promotes tourism to the area through its “Land of Waterfalls” brand.
“Last year, we experienced six fatalities at Transylvania County’s waterfalls,” said Clark Lovelace, executive director of the TCTDA. “Even one life lost in this way is one too many.”
Earlier this year, the TCTDA began working with local leadership at Pisgah National Forest, DuPont State Recreational Forest and Gorges State Park to develop a multi-pronged communications approach aimed at helping educate the public about the dangers associated with what is, arguably, one of western North Carolina’s most storied attractions. The campaign will utilize on-site signage and social media to get the word out.
“It’s ironic that something so beautiful can also be so treacherous,” said Steve Pagano, Park Superintendent at Gorges State Park. “But that’s part of the problem. People become so mesmerized that they don’t always think about the risks.”
The event will take place on National Trails Day, which will give forest and park superintendents the opportunity to also talk about forest safety in general.
“Often, the public doesn’t realize the incredible amount of resources that are required to respond to backcountry emergencies,” said Bobby Cooper, EMS director for Transylvania County. “More than 90% of local emergency responders are volunteers.”
With more people visiting public lands, the strain on emergency services is growing.
“We want to do our best to help prepare people so they can enjoy a forest experience safely and responsibly,” said Bruce MacDonald, a ranger at DuPont State Recreational Forest. “Unlike an amusement park, our forests are not engineered for safety. Visitors need to have that mindset going in.”
While their message is a serious one, forest and park leaders will also convey tips on how to best enjoy the county’s myriad natural resources.
“We have issues with crowding in some popular areas,” said Jeff Owenby, district recreation program manager at Pisgah National Forest. “We’re going to be sharing advice on how people can avoid some of those peak times to enjoy a better experience. We’ll also be talking about how important trail courtesy is between different user groups.”
In addition to tourism, forest and park officials, several representatives from key support groups will be on hand to show their support for the initiative, including Friends of DuPont, The Pisgah Conservancy, Friends of Gorges, Cradle of Forestry in America Interpretive Association and others.
Media should park at the High Falls Parking Lot at DuPont State Recreational Forest where additional transportation will be provided to the event location at the High Falls Picnic Shelter. Media that have special needs or requests can contact Bruce MacDonald at (828) 877-6527 or
