My son had just turned 5 years old when I took him up Angels Landing. He ascended and descended the entire climb all by himself. I stayed close with a rope tied around my waist and attached to him, tied around his waist with bowline knots. We just chatted all the way up and all the way down. I remember and intense conversation about Star Wars on the way down. Was a hike I'll always remember. There are really only about 2-3 places on the whole hike where you can screw up enough to fall an kill yourself. I can hardly believe it ever happens at all?

I was with Mr. Goldstein when he fell this weekend. His daughter, brother-n-law, niece and son witnessed the whole thing along with me. His daughter unfortunately was the one who was right next to him and lunged forward after him to save him and missed. She is who I feel the most for. At any rate, Barry too was an experienced hiker and this particular hike to Angel's Crossing was his fourth. The only warning the park stresses to hikers is that it's "streneous". To me, it was horrific to witness an experienced hiker die like this, but even more to see hundreds of people go up on those trails with little water, tennis shoes, cameras dangling down....etc. I don't want the hike to be shut-down, however the park needs to advertise and communicate a little more on what this hike truly is: a deadly, narrow cliff where there are many opportunities for accidents that is for experienced/professional hikers only. And if you don't look prepared, that hikers are fined by the park. I hope the park is not keeping quiet about this hike knowing of it's popularity with Zion visitors and the possibility it might "hurt" profit.

I was planning on this hike with family next week. Because of the ages af my children, I think I will have to pass this time. I am so sorry for the loss of your loved ones. SP

The park should not allow anyone to go up Angel's Landing without the proper equipment (hiking boots, certain amount of water, etc.) There should be minimum standards set and met before going up. A park ranger should approve the ascent at a checkpoint after meeting such requirements. They should at least post a sign stating the equipment needed to make the climb and a picture of the shoes, etc. with a "X" marked through it.

I read where a parent took a 1 year up on his back. That should be outlawed and a person fined for endangering a minor. Really, no children under 16 should be allowed up. If they can't legally drive a car by themselves prior to that age, they most certainly have no business climbing something this dangerous. Why should we have laws and restrictions for Angel's Landing? To save people from their own arrogance and stupidity.

It's a shame people feel they need a thrill or adrenaline rush to "live life".

If you are planning to climb this landing in the future; make sure you have life insurance, your family may need it.

I fell terrible for this family - especially the daughter. I hate heights and exposures but I have hiked out to the end of Angel's Landing and several times during that hike I thought "I could turn around now" but I chose to continue. I also saw several people who did turn around or not attempt to hike all the way out. They didn't need someone to tell them to do that - they decided for themselves what they were comfortable doing and that's just what they did. I regularly hike with a guy who I call "Goat" (short for "mountain goat)" because he literally runs up and down and across exposures that I choose not to do. He is comfortable doing those things. Even when I see the ease and grace with which he traverses these areas, I still refuse to do it because I'm not comfortable with it.

I spend a lot of time in canyon country and frequently come upon exposed areas that make me uncomfortable. My solution? Turn back. I don't need the government telling me I shouldn't do it - I'm a big boy and I can decide that for myself.

Do you really think they should post a ranger at the bottom 24/7 to determine who should be allowed to pass? People should be accountable for themselves - I don't believe it is goverment's job to "save people from their own arrogance and stupidity".

As for taking a 1 year old up on someone's back: with the number of kids who are genuinely neglected/mistreated/abused in the U.S. today, I don't think we should devote too much time and resources to chasing down folks who take their children for a hike in a National Park so they can be charged with 'endangering a minor'.

At the grand canyon, they have signs warning people about the dangers of not having enough water with strapping athletic people who got into trouble and had to be rescued; likewise I think it would be effective if the zion rangers would put up some pictures of good hikers who got into trouble on the trail and posted it up there. Tragedies could be prevented a little more, hopefully.

5 of us went on the AL trail several years ago. 1 stopped at the beginning of the "danger zone". 2 of us (including me) stopped at the next "landing" and 2 others did the entire trail. The key is common sense and knowing yourself. we laugh at each other now, but there was no "peer pressure" (age 29 then) from the others that day. Every person needs to decide for themselves. beautiful country from any viewpoint.

My daughter & I hiked Angel's Landing 3 years ago--September 2005. She was not quite 11 at the time (very tall for her age, long legs). We read up on it first, including pics & videos, wore appropriate footwear, and approached the hike with respect & foresight. We didn't have any trouble. We hike regularly, but nothing as exposed as AL. She still talks about it at least once a month--it is a memory & accomplishment she'll have for a lifetime. You have to know yourself & whoever you are with; your strengths & weaknesses & respect your instincts. The most important trail advice is above--don't rely on the chains solely--have secure footing without holding on to them. They can be very dangerous--especially when someone in back of you grabs hold & "springs" the chain, making it bounce & fly around--if you are not sure of your footing, you could easily lose it there. In making the choice to take my daughter at her age; the biggest factor was that I knew that first, if she was too scared or unsure to go on, she would tell me; and second, that I knew she'd follow directions immediately (like STOP!) without any attitude or hesitation. Several kids in her Scout troop want me to take them when we go camping in Zion--NO WAY!! Because of those two factors--not sure which ones I could trust to behave. Good luck to anyone trying the hike--it is truly an experience to last a lifetime.