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Opinion: Yosemite deaths: Should visitors have to sign a liability waiver before entering the park?

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Yosemite National Park experienced its fourth death in two weeks Sunday, and its 14th death so far this year. The four most recent deaths occurred at particularly popular spots in the park -- Vernal Falls, where three people climbed over the guardrail, despite warning signs, and were swept over the falls, and the cable hike up Half Dome.

There are deaths at Yosemite every year, though so far this year, the numbers are about twice as high as usual. Families of the Vernal Falls victims have raised questions about whether the signs and the easily climbed guardrail were enough of a deterrent. As the Times editorial board prepares to write about the question of balancing the desire to protect lives, and the desire to keep nature natural, what are your thoughts about safeguards in the wilderness? Have we reached the point where visitors should sign a liability waiver?

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--Karin Klein

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