Are You A Daredevil? Great, But Would You Jump Off A 50-Foot Cliff?
I must admit, I did some stupid things in my younger days. Like the day we high school seniors skipped afternoon classes to jump off a local bridge into the…
Cliff Diving: Man in yellow swim trunks jumps feet first off of a very high, rocky, cliff into the water below. Photo taken just as he jumps off the ledge.
Luka Banda via Getty ImagesI must admit, I did some stupid things in my younger days. Like the day we high school seniors skipped afternoon classes to jump off a local bridge into the river below. Sure, it was lots of fun. We all got a big adrenaline rush from it. Looking back, we weren’t too bright. Thankfully, no one was injured, and we all lived to talk about it. Unfortunately, that is not the case for one Ohio man who went cliff diving at Lake Powell last week.
36-Year-Old Ohio Man Goes Cliff Diving Off 50-Foot Ledge
I saw this story on KTNV.com. 36-year-old Cory Ryan Ehrnschwender of Ohio is the man who went cliff diving at Lake Powell last week and never resurfaced. According Jarah Wright’s article, witnesses saw him jump off a cliff about 50-feet high. Basically, that’s equivalent to jumping off a 5-story building. Even if you’re jumping into water, that’s still very dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.
As has been noted, Ehrnschwender never resurfaced. In any event, his body was not found until the following day. Per Wright’s article, the Utah Department of Public Safety Dive Team began a search. The cliff diving victim was located Friday, July 21st, in about 30 feet of water.
Do You Have The “Daredevil Gene”?
This sad story got me to thinking about the crazy stuff we do as kids and young adults. Some of us continue to be daredevils into middle age. Evidently, these types of folks are thrill-seekers. Apparently, they love the adrenaline rush. I would assume it makes them feel more alive. I think I lost that “daredevil gene” back in my late 20’s if I ever had it at all.
With this in mind, a web search for the “daredevil gene” produced a bunch of articles from about ten years ago. Not only are there research studies into the genetics of being a daredevil, but also into behaviors such as gambling and drug addiction.
A NYTimes.com archived article describes a study done in Canada. Gretchen Reynolds’ article points to a study done by Cynthia Thomson at the University of British Columbia. Her findings point to a variant in the DRD4 gene. To sum up, the daredevil gene has much to do with dopamine receptors in our brains.
With this purpose in mind, there will be more research conducted regarding this type of behavior. In the meantime, I’ll stick to floating around in a pool instead of jumping off a roof into five or six feet of water.
Nevada Has Some of the Deadliest Lakes in the U.S.
In Nevada, we're blessed to have some beautiful areas, including some areas near water. Last weekend, I went to visit my uncle, who lives off a lake. It was a great time, even though it was pretty cold outside. Still, sitting along the lake and watching the ripples and currents was such a peaceful experience. But, I got to thinking, how dangerous are lakes across America? As it turns out, Nevada has some of the deadliest lakes in all of America.
Before we get to our state, let's look at another state that has lots of lakes: Michigan. According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, 15 people have already died in the Great Lakes in 2023. Think about the fact that the season hasn't even started yet, and that's pretty incredible. A total of 108 people drowned in the Great Lakes in 2022. Also, a whopping 1,170 people have died in the Great Lakes since 2010. It's a reminder to stay safe out there and take precautions when the waters get rough.
My Michigan Beach has some simple tips to stay safe in the water this year. They say to, "Never swim alone; swim with lifeguards and/or water watchers present. Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket appropriate for your weight and size and the water activity. Always wear a life jacket while boating, regardless of swimming skill.
Swim sober." My Michigan Beach also notes that the Great Lakes are freshwater seas, meaning, "the water can change quickly." Find more tips on how to stay safe on the beach this summer here.
Nevada Has Some of the Deadliest Lakes in America
Read on for the deadliest lakes in all of America, including some which are right here. Have you visited any of the lakes below? Reach out to us on social media and let us know.
Lake Lanier in Georgia
According to USA By the Numbers, Lake Lanier in Georgia is one of the deadliest lakes in America and the deadliest in Georgia. They note that some believe, "Lake Lanier's murky waters, a bottom littered with tree trunks and other debris, and an abrupt drop in the lake’s floor make it unsafe for swimmers."
Mono Lake in California and on the edge of the Sierra Nevada
According to AZ Animals, the Mono Lake is a dangerous one. They state, "Located in California, it is set towards the east and at the edge of Sierra Nevada." They add that the fact the lake isn’t connected to any other body of water makes it so that "when chemicals get into the lake, they do not flow out but stay there and pollute the water. Sadly, the lake has built up an alarming concentration of arsenic. The water is now poisonous and toxic to humans and animals."
Lake Mead in Nevada and Arizona
Lake Mead is a reservoir formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. It's located in Nevada and Arizona, and it's just east of Las Vegas. It's dangerous, though. According to Wilk Jeffery’s “Wilks Journal of Travel Medicine,” the most international visitor fatalities has been recorded at Lake Mead. Many of these are drownings or car crashes.
Lake Erie in Michigan and Ohio
Even though Lake Erie is the smallest of the Great Lakes, it's very dangerous. According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, six people have already died in Lake Erie this year. That's even more than Lake Michigan! The reason Lake Erie is dangerous is because it's the shallowest of the Great Lakes, so it can warm and cool faster than other lakes, which can lead to volatile waters and also a major annual algae bloom in the middle of the lake.
Lake Michigan in Michigan and Illinois - This is the No. 1 most dangerous lake in all of America
Multiple sources list Lake Michigan as the deadliest lake in all of the U.S. AZ Animals has the lake listed at No. 1, as does Pond Informer and USA By the Numbers. According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, five people have already died in Lake Michigan this year.
What about shipwrecks?
According to AZ Animals, Lake Erie has been home to the most shipwrecks in the U.S. That's creepy! "There are famous tales of shipwrecks on other Great Lakes, such as the haunting true story and song of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald on Lake Superior," they state. "But, it is Lake Erie whose icy, cold waters hold the remains of the most shipwrecks – with estimates of 500 – 2,000 wrecks. It is believed to have a greater density of shipwrecks than virtually anywhere in the world – even the Bermuda Triangle."
Larry Martino is the long-time afternoon drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of Larry Martino and not necessarily those of Beasley Media Group, LLC.
