The American Spectator : Don't Jump

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Don't Jump

By Bill Croke on 6.29.09 @ 6:07AM

The right to die in our national parks -- who picks up the tab?

The other day a 20-year-old man from Salt Lake City named Nicholas Mostert climbed over a railing on an observation platform and hurled himself into the swift, deep waters of the Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park. According to witnesses, he disappeared beneath the water. Mostert was most certainly swept to his death over the nearby 308-foot raging precipice of Lower Yellowstone Falls. As of this writing his body hasn't been recovered, though articles of his clothing have been. It will eventually surface downstream in slower water.

Suicides in national parks are becoming an increasingly noteworthy phenomenon. According to a recent story by the Associated Press, in 2008 thirty-three people chose to end their lives this way. These include a 53-year-old failed businessman who shot himself in Glacier National Park in Montana; a 46-year-old cancer patient who canoed into Florida's Everglades and disappeared; a 65-year-old biology professor who chose Canyonlands in Utah to return his (according to his suicide note) "body and soul to nature." These incidents have risen by more than 100 percent in the last five years (2004--16; 2005--18; 2006--18; 2007--26). According to a story in the Arizona Daily Star (Tucson), ten people have killed themselves at Grand Canyon National Park since 2004 (three in 2008 alone). Nicholas Mostert is Yellowstone's sixth suicide since 1997.

Without delving into the miserable lives of these poor souls, these cases point to a desire on the part of the suicide to have a last glimpse of life lived amidst magnificent natural surroundings: in perfect solitude, with gorgeous views, observable wildlife, and maybe trilling birdsong in the ears. So let's assume that these are green-oriented folks. If this is true, in a twisted way it's the ultimate statement in support of the environment. And from the "right to die" point view, it seems like a noble, romantic thing to do. Once asked about the rash of suicides, Yellowstone spokesman Al Nash said: "Parks hold a special place in people's hearts. There are some individuals who feel it's important to have that kind of connection in those final moments."

But the problem with Mr. Nash's conciliatory statement is that liberals can't even kill themselves without costing the taxpayers a lot of money. The National Park Service maintains an annual Search and Rescue budget of approximately $3 million. In 2007, it went over budget and spent $4.7 million. This is common now. Most of these funds are devoted to rescuing lost hikers, backpackers, stranded mountain climbers, and other many-times unprepared people, and for dealing with medical emergencies and accidental deaths. Some parks (such as Yosemite) have started charging an extra visitors fee as a kind of insurance policy in case the visitor needs to be rescued. And this seems to be the wave of the future as the parks struggle to defer these huge costs.

Yellowstone's efforts to recover Nicholas Mostert's body have so far required a number of rangers (who certainly have more important things to do) to hike down into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone below the falls to monitor certain points of the river. Meanwhile, a National Park Service helicopter hovers overhead scanning the river (I'm sure the helicopter's buzzing up and down the river does a lot to enhance the wilderness experience of Yellowstone visitors). Helicopter cost? $300 per hour. The man who shot himself in Glacier last year caused 40 people from various agencies to be employed in the search and recovery of his remains. When somebody jumps into Arizona's Grand Canyon, it again might require a helicopter retrieval, or a combination of a helicopter and rangers rappelling down a cliff on ropes. Needless to say, thousands of dollars of taxpayer largesse are required for the recovery of a single body. Multiply that by 33 last year.

It can be argued that these unfortunate incidents occur regularly on the public lands -- whether it be Forest Service land or Bureau of Land Management property -- not just in the national parks. After all, taking one's life in lonely, remote country in the West (or anywhere else) is as old as the West itself. And it can also be argued that the same Search and Rescue stratagems apply anyway. Even a suicide or other death at home requires a public response. But the idea of ending-it-all in a place that will trigger an expensive coordinated search strikes me as wasteful and as selfish as the act itself.

So there's nothing to say to Nicholas Mostert except, Rest in Peace. And don't worry, we'll pick up the tab.

topics:
Suicide

About the Author

Bill Croke, formerly of Cody, Wyoming, is a writer in Salmon, Idaho.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (35) | Leave a comment

KyMouse| 6.29.09 @ 8:36AM

Thank you for the thought-provoking article, Mr. Croke. State parks certainly aren't immune to this fatal attraction. I remember watching the news on TV a while back when a news anchor was reporting from the river above Niagara Falls. As he explained something about the story he was covering, the TV audience heard a spash and saw a man float by behind him -- a televised suicide in (or near) a state park.

Well, I think it's reasonable to charge higher fees for park entry to cover search-and-rescue missions. In centuries gone by, people venturing into wilderness areas understood that there could be real risk involved; during frontier days in my state, for example, hunters often left Fort Boonesborough and other outposts and simply never returned.

Today, we head for wilderness areas for fun, fully expecting to return to our homes with nothing worse than a bit of sunburn or a skeeter bite. I think that's worth a higher fee.

Ashlee| 6.29.09 @ 9:49AM

I recently visited the Grand Canyon for the first time, and I was amazed that there are in fact very few railings or fences to prevent someone from falling or jumping off the edge. Rational, logical people without death wishes either maintain a healthy distance from the edge of the canyon or proceed very carefully when nearing it, and they may enjoy an unobstructed view. It is entirely reasonable to have people contribute to the cost of their search and rescue missions, but I found it incredibly gratifying to know that there is still a place in this country where the government permits people to be stupid and doesn't regulate away the enjoyment of those with more common sense.

Toni| 6.29.09 @ 11:07AM

If the parks system charged the surviving family members with the search and recovery expenses, one would hope the suicidal person might think twice before incurring this kind of debt. But, as you said, suicide is selfish...

Raoul Otega| 6.29.09 @ 12:16PM

If the parks system charged the surviving family members with the search and recovery expenses

It's called "the estate". Everyone leaves one behind, and it should be what pays for any S&R expenses. (Although in the present climate, be on the lookout for exorbitant billing rates to help close "funding gaps".)

Joe| 6.29.09 @ 12:45PM

I agree with Toni, charge the family or pick them up when you can. I know that is maybe heartless but they are the ones causing the trouble and they probably would not care if it took time to pick up their remains.

PolishKnight| 6.29.09 @ 1:33PM

There's a third option nobody mentioned: Why not leave the remains? It's a green/environmental solution that provides nutrition for all kinds of scavenger animals. In addition, it's also a fiscal conservative/liberatarian solution. Unless the remains are an environmental/toxic hazard, why should the government get involved? If the estate of the deceased desires, let them pay to retrieve them. Win win!

I was thinking a similar thought back when John Kennedy Jr flew his small plane in the ocean and then taxpayers footed the bill to retrive it so that... his remains could be buried at sea! Does that make ANY sense? It was jokingly referred to as "catch and release."

Mazzuchelli| 6.29.09 @ 1:50PM

Same thing for those who require rescue from remote back country locations. There will be a rescue but it will cost you!! As another blog just wrote, "Stupidity should hurt."

Il Gecko| 6.29.09 @ 2:03PM

As a long time volunteer Search and Rescue K-9 handler, these stories are not isolated. Fee for servicecomes to mind as a solution, and hopefully the new transponders available will cut the SAR missions way back. Maybe not. The ones who will actually purchase one will probably never need it. Hard to prevent stupid people from doing stupid things. I'm going to place one more blame on the nanny state; if something goes wrong, the gov't will save me. I'd like to do a survey of lost persons to find out if they voted for Obama.

Support your local SAR Dog "GET LOST!"

Big Leo| 6.29.09 @ 3:30PM

Organ Pipe Cactus NM put out a pamphlet some years back called "Surviving Your Visit to OPC NM." In it they mentioned some of the myriad ways the desert will kill you. I do a lot of hiking in the area, and have been a volunteer searcher for people too dim to read the booklet. I recall a conversation with German tourists (the worst, in my opinion-- look for my new book, "Close Encounters of the German Kind,) where they badmouthed America for about a half hour. In the end, I asked their names. They asked why I wanted to know, and I told them, "If you get lost out there, I want to know how hard to look."

Kitty| 6.29.09 @ 6:04PM

Big Leo, thanks for the laff!!

...

sarah| 6.29.09 @ 6:09PM

As living beings we inevitably cost huge amounts of money. Taxpayers money included- no matter what we do. I'd rather my tax money go to searching for the injured and those who chose to be at peace in nature than to killing innocent people in other countries. Or to a gazillion other pointless and hurtful places. You should give some thought to people's personal lives before you make harsh comments and accusations. Nick was a close friend of mine, and I'm so glad that he found peace. We may not all be costly "liberals" but we are all costly people. Have some heart.

Sarah.

Hayduke| 6.29.09 @ 6:36PM

You know...the immediate.."Yah, I'll support increased fee's sentiment above irritates me"...I'd like to support the increased fee suggestion at Yosemit, BUT do you all realize that less than 20-25% of your CURRENT park entry fee's actually stay in our National Parks??? This increased Fee idea is so that Yosemite's Superintendant can control the funds to actually do Search and Rescue with them....believe me, as soon as Washington can take it from him...THEY WILL!!!
Catch a clue folks, your Entry Fee's go to the big black hole in Washington DC for the next Pork Project...or to grease the printing press wheels that have had to double their speed in the last 6 months for our new $10 trillion dollars in debt to add to the old $10 trillion that took 50 years to accumulate. Although suicide is very selfish on behalf of these individuals, they are leaving this "protect me from womb to tomb - debtors in possession" circumstances of the rest of us rat race tax paying citizens...in some of the best scenery known to man. Wait until you are paying your park entrance fee at Grand Canyon to China, Yosemite to Japan, and at Zion to France or Germany...because NO intelligent nation will continue to buy our worthless paper T-bills...IT'S NOT TOO FAR OFF NOW!!! Yes, it is all about the MONEY...and OUR future....

PolishKnight| 6.29.09 @ 10:31PM

It's a classic liberal argument to say something like: "I'd rather my tax money went for [pet cause X] rather than war." Where's the flaw in that statement? It assumes that the money has to be spent on SOMETHING! The notion that maybe it should just stay in the hands of the people never occurs to them.

Sarah, I love to tell liberals that I would rather see money be dumped into a hole in the ground, or spent on bombs, than given to even the most worthy social causes that liberals will then use to cram other agendas down my throat or violate my rights in the name of building a perfect society.

If that means killing national healthcare, I'm ok with that. If it means killing the electric car, I'm ok with that too. Sotomayer and Ginsburg's "empathy" doesn't extend to white male firefighters. So to hell with them!

Katie| 6.29.09 @ 11:58PM

It'd be nice to see a little bit of caring for people in these situations. It is not the family's fault if a relative dies, so why should they have to pay for it? Putting the expenses on the family (on top of getting nothing from life insurance due to the cause of death being suicide) is completely heartless, to say the least. It costs enough to hold a funeral, not to mention the emotional costs this puts families through. Paying to find the body of a person once in a while is nothing compared to the tax money put into causes much more ridiculous day after day. I would like each one of you to consider what parents are already going through when they lose a son to suicide.

I also think a much better argument for saving money on "search and rescue" would be to shut down the Boy Scouts of America camping trips. More boyscouts get lost per year than the amount of people that commit suicide in national parks.

Richard Baker| 6.30.09 @ 7:11AM

I'm all for the Green alternative mentioned above. Let the animals have their fill and natural forces will dispose of everything else. What could be better for "Mother Gaia"? Oh, I forgot. It would spoil the view.

JamesJ| 6.30.09 @ 8:26AM

Weren't senior citizens "treated" to a video of nature scenes before they were turned into Soylent Green?

John Navratil| 6.30.09 @ 9:51AM

I did not know Nicholas Mostert, but as a fellow human I mourn his loss. Of course he could have chosen a means which was less burdensome to the tax payer, but I don't suspect he was thinking about who would actually search for him.

Why do we search? What actually separates us from wild animals? Why does the IDF swap live terrorists for a dead soldier?

It is a reverence for life and a respect for a life lost which motivates it. In an ideal world, Mr. Mostert would have died peacefully in the company of loved ones and, only incidentally, at lesser expense.

It is more than a little unseemly that we treat Mr. Mosterts remains as just so much meat to be removed to the land fill. It cheapens our common humanity. May a merciful God grant him the peace he did not have here on earth.

PolishKnight| 6.30.09 @ 10:13AM

Richard, I hate to sound ghoulish but it wouldn't spoil the view. If the remains are in such an inaccessable place that a search party needs to go hunt for them, they're unlikely to be seen at all.

Scavengers in national parks are efficient and will consume a corpse in a matter of weeks. It's kind of ironic that wolves and coyotes were recently reintroduced into the parks.

William| 6.30.09 @ 11:32AM

Bill: I was at Yellowstone on the day Mostert leapt over the falls and assisted park rangers in looking for him, even though i was there on vacation. The importance of finding a grizzly bear suddenly felt not so important in the grand scheme of things.

While i appreciate your article, your comment that park rangers "certainly have more important things to do [than look for Mostert's body]" is about as insensitive as it gets. I understand your frustration because it was a suicide, but what about the innocent victims here-- his family and friends. I am sure it is important for them, perhaps even necessary, to recover the body to put closure on the tragedy of the loss. Let me come at this another way...What if it was your child that jumped over the falls? I am sure you would then think it pretty important that the rangers do whatever necessary to recover the body. Let's show some courtesy to those who think it is important in this case.

Richard Baker| 6.30.09 @ 4:29PM

James J: You are correct about Soylent Green and Edward G. Robinson was shown doing just that while listening to classical music.

PolishKnight: Not being ghoulish at all and you are very correct about the remoteness.

David| 7.1.09 @ 3:40AM

Sarah, I am chocked that you didnt do enough to prevent Nick's death. I am his friend as well but I cant imagine why did he do it and leaving loved onces behind and hurt. You cant imagine how hurt I am since then. We all make some bad choices in our liftime, but ending your life has never been a solution. He was a young man with a promissing future and surronded with great people from all continents. A true believer of Eastern culture-Taoism. Its a selfish action he did leaving a Mother, Father, Sister and a brother hurt. We all will die anyway, so why ending what will hapen? I hope that his remain be found so we can have a place to share our respect and love. My heart goes to loved onces

PolishKnight| 7.1.09 @ 2:05PM

I'm reminded of an IMAX film I saw about Mount Everest where insane, egotistical climbers wanted to make a scale of Mt. Everest (if I had several million, I'd relax and enjoy life but I guess that a perspective of someone who earns money rather than inherits it).

A team of rich guys scaled the mountain and one of them die and another one loses most of his fingers and toes to frostbite. OK, that's a choice they made I guess. What brings this example to mind is that the body of the dead guy was left on the mountain. It's frozen to the mountain and could easily remain there for thousands of years. Yet, despite this eyesore, climbers continue to walk by these horrific monuments on their own personal quest to scale everest. They don't seem to have a problem with it.

Aunt Ruth| 7.1.09 @ 8:05PM

I'm Nicks Aunt. There were more than 15 of our family members there when Nick dove into the waterfall. Almost everyone has experienced trauma from it. PTSD is a condition we are very aware of now. My 10 year old nephew saw the whole thing and could not be consoled for hours. We all loved Nick so much. He was hurting & many tried to help him in the days before his death. We all tried to do and say what we could to reach out him as it was evident he was suffering - we had no idea how much. David, it is important not to blame Sarah. Its not her fault. There are so many things Nick was going through that were not understood until after we found the suicide note. He was tormented and irrational. The helicopters? The search and rescue? They all seem so trivial - even the money you all say it cost to look for his body - so trivial in the light of losing my beautiful nephew. His body will probably never be recovered they say. They did find his jeans in the waterfall and for that I am glad there is some closure for my brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew. The memorial is this Friday and because I was searching for his obit I found this blog. Wow. People have no idea. If the search and rescue did nothing that day, it would have been such a disrespect to all of us. I am so glad that those who have gone before us have set in place a structure of procedures to follow in the event of a tragedy like this. At an unbelievably difficult time, those in charge were like angels to my family members. Our family does not expect a search to continue on in a ridiculous waste, but there is an appreciation of their attempt. We know it was futile after a time and have accepted that his body may never be recovered. Please be kind. The pain of this death has been beyond what words can describe. Please pray for us. Thank you.

David| 7.2.09 @ 5:44PM

Aunt Ruth, I am not really blaming Sarah for anything. I just believe no one should be happy for the death of Nick. What matter what were the issues he was dealing with. You don’t end your life and leaving behind loved ones hurt. The suicide note might point out some bad choices he might had made, but as a young man we all make some bad choices in our lifetime. I wish I could afford flying back in Salt Lake for his memorial. He leave loved ones hurt. I understand how hard and difficult what you went through that day seeing him ending his life by jumping into waterfall. My heart goes to you all. I am in prayer for his soul

Susan| 7.2.09 @ 10:41PM

My condolences to you...I arrived at the lower falls within minutes of your earth-shattering event. My prayers to you all...I can never imagine the loss that you have experienced. God bless.

Samantha Borman| 7.3.09 @ 1:45PM

Hi, I would like to say that I am Truely Sorry to hear about the big Tradgity of this loved one. I know that it's hard to deal with. I lossed my boyfriend in 2007 to the same thing and I was there when it happened. I will most definatly keep the hole family in my Prayers and Thoughts. I wish the best for the family.
I just hate to see this kind of pain in each and every human that comes to see this wounderful park of Yellowstone National Park. I am an employee of Yellowstone. Remember that my prayers are all with you to the family that lost a close friend, brother, son, newphew or grandson.

David| 7.5.09 @ 5:44AM

This issue must stays alive. Until Nick's remains be recovert. What mater what the issue is, I believe that an induvidual should not end his own life. Life is sacret and valuable just to end it. And also doing so it is an act of selfishness, arrogance and careless. Because you will be gone and people leaved behind will be hurt, suffer for ever. How could you pretend that you are going to found peace? While people left are not in peace? No no no, ending your life has never been a problem solver

John| 7.6.09 @ 8:58PM

Using someone's suicide to rant about liberals, classy.

Do us a favor and kill yourself Mr. Crooke, those of us with empathy wouldn't mind picking up the tab at all.

John| 7.6.09 @ 8:59PM

Using someone's suicide to rant about liberals, classy.

Do us a favor and kill yourself Mr. Crooke. Those of us with basic human empathy wouldn't mind picking up the tab.

GMY| 7.8.09 @ 12:45AM

I work for the National Park Service as a Ranger and have been involved in some SAR events. While it may seem heartless to talk about the cost of body recovery, it is necessary to count the cost. People literally put their lives on the line looking for a body whether it is off a mountainside or they are 250 feet or more deep in a reservoir. People are focusing on Nicholas Mostert and his jump at Yellowstone right now and that he just jumped into the water. The statistics are terrible; he is not alone. And it is true, those that take their lives by jumping into a canyon or river or whatever don’t impact the environment that much, but the ones who drive their vans over the edge do. There is a park which has jokingly been referred to by some as Suicide National Park because of a scenic drive area where more and more people are just not turning at a scenic overlook and are driving over the edge. Body recovery can help bring closure to some of the families, no doubt, but it is expensive. Trying to repair the damage from automotive fluids leaking into the ground or the trees that were impacted by a vehicle on the way down is costly too. The park service was established in 1916 by what is commonly referred to as the Organic Act and it states “The service thus established ... which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” That is a tough enough assignment without the added burden of people selfishly, actively, and wantonly destroying part of it. While some may think they are being romantic about it with the birds, sky, wind, etc. around them, the truth is they are destroying what they claim to love.

It is sad that people feel that the only way to escape their problems is to die. Suicide is a selfish act that hurts others, passes problems off to loved ones, and leaves a mess behind. Please, if you think you want to kill yourself, call your family, call a friend, call a church, or better yet, visit one or all of the above. I’m sure they will do their best to help. If you claim to love nature and the natural places that parks protect, please do not come to a National Park to end your life. Come here to renew your spirit and live!

David| 7.8.09 @ 5:21AM

GMY, I can agree with you more. There is always help with close friends; family member loved ones around you. Stop giving bad memories to our national parks, go there to seek help talk to the nature about how you might feel hurt in anyway but not to end your life there. You supposed to protect the place not walk people away from. I even don’t know if I am going to feel anymore to go visit a Yellowstone waterfalls knowing that my great friend's remains still down there. Just imagine what's going to be my emotion and feelings and hard would it be? How can I handle it?
GMY, also I wish that our National parks be well equipped (maybe fishmen who can jump after to save lives, if the case my friend might still be alive) to prevent and save such tragedy.

Chris| 7.23.09 @ 9:30AM

GMY, it has been over a month since my friend jumped into the Yellowstone waterfalls river. I would like to know if you believe if there is a chance that his remains can or will be recovered? Because it’s very devastating for us to know that Nick still does not has a place call a last resting place. We his friends are willing to set up a fund and raise money to pay in order to recover his remains. Please anyone who can come up with some information would be very helpful. We would like you to know that we are respecting all of your views and opinions. But please understand it is very hard while it happen to you or someone you were closed to.

Thanks

Chris

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