Waterfall and Gravity
Ryan Wardwell, 46, of Long Beach, CA went to the waterfalls known as the Seven Teacups on August 10th with plans to rappel down the cliff in and around the waterfall. Ryan had rappelled the falls several times before, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The Seven Teacups are in a secluded area about two hours south of the Sequoia national park, which itself is east of Visalia, CA. Seven Teacups is an attraction for hiking, rock climbers and repellers. On his trip this time, friends had accompanied him, though they opted to stop going further after seeing the strength of the rushing water’s power. Ryan decided he could make it down the rock face even with the waterfall soaking him. Wardwell’s friends left a note on his car telling passersby to report him missing if the vehicle was still there the next day, which it was. Rappelling is a type of climbing where, instead of scaling the wall upwards, daring climbers rig themselves at the top and make the descent to the base, often off a cliffside or other rock wall. Once he started repelling into the torrent, he lost his grip and tumbled to the bottom of the falls. He plummeted in an open space behind the waterfall. Ryan was reported missing within a day after local law enforcement noticed his vehicle hadn’t budged from a lot near the park.
His failure to return to his car that night prompted local law enforcement to spend August 11th searching for him with infrared technology and aircraft. Difficult terrain and fading daylight thwarted their efforts that day. But rescuers found Ryan the next day after flying a drone behind the cascade in question. Ryan, soaked to the bone after his fall, had tried to escape the waterfall himself, “but there was nothing he could do to break through,” the crashing wall of water around him. Wardwell fought to escape for two days. “There was no way for him to warm up or dry out in there, so it had to have been miserable,”
Officials employed every tool available from infrared technology to helicopters to try and locate Wardwell as the clock ticked. Ryan was eventually found by a drone behind the Seven Teacups waterfall, conscious but weak after the torturous two days surrounded by nothing but wet rock. He was hoisted to safety into a helicopter hovering above the thick foliage and uneven rapids before being returned to dry land with a short catalogue of minor injuries, the sheriff’s office said. Wardwell was alive and conscious when rescuers spotted him, and he told them how he had become stranded there. A California highway patrol helicopter crew then managed to hoist him to safety to cap off what the sheriff’s office declared a “stunning survival story.” Wardwell received treatment for dehydration and “only minor injuries,” and he was reunited with family who had gone to the scene.
Water over the dam
What’s the opposite of a waterfall?
A firefly.
Two young blond men were on holiday, and went to see Niagara Falls. After a few drinks one night, one bet the other $500 he couldn’t carry him across the falls on a tightrope. After a very scary trip, his friend managed to stagger safely across, and the wager was duly paid. “That was close,” said the loser. “When you wobbled, halfway across, I was sure I’d won.”
My career as a professional rock climber is going great, but I’m also taking a mattress making course.
Just so I’ve got something to fall back on.
A family was standing on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, looking out at the raging water.
“Look, daughter!” The Mom said. “Did you know on this side of the Falls is one country, and the other side of the Falls is a different country?”
“Really?” said the daughter, amazed.
“Yes, if you’re on this side of the Falls, you’re probably Canadian. And if you’re on that side of the Falls, you’re probably American.”
The daughter looked out at the falls again while she took that in.
“What happens if you fall in?” She asked.
Before the Mom could answer, the Dad piped up. “Then you’re probably Finnish.”
August 20th Birthdays
1975 – Amy Adams , 1996 – Liana Liberato, 1983 – Meghan Ory, 1946 – Connie Chung
1935 – Ron Paul, 1954 – Al Roker, 1986 – Brent Dugherty, 1980 – Andrew Garfield