<p>[Gorge</a> swimmer goes over falls, drowns | theithacajournal.com | The Ithaca Journal](<a href=“http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080613/NEWS01/806130361&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL]Gorge”>http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080613/NEWS01/806130361&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL)</p>
<p>Be careful swimming in the gorges kids. I don’t advise climbing on the waterfalls at all.</p>
<p>I completely agree. While it’s safe to go down to the FIJI gorges to lounge around on the flat rocks and walk through the shallow water, I would not recommend sliding down the waterfall. A ton of people slide down and it looks fun and safe but every year 1-2 people drown in that exact same location because they get pulled down by the current.</p>
<p>Rest in Peace, fellow ILRie. 
I’ve met Doug a few times, seemed like a nice kid.</p>
<p>So he died? OMG!!</p>
<p>I’ve slid down that gorge, and as much as its fun, i remember a strong current at times trying to suck me under. So swim in the gorges with caution!</p>
<p>So sad…</p>
<p>Very sad indeed!</p>
<p>tragic RIP Doug Lowe</p>
<p>This is tragic indeed. Are students warned of the danger during freshman orientation?</p>
<p>I’ll admit that I lived in Ithaca for many years and never understood why so many people drowned in the gorges. I would always think, “Oh, he must have hit his head on a rock,” or “Why do people who can’t swim insist on going to the gorges,” or something like that. </p>
<p>Until I read the newspaper article in the above link, I hadn’t realized that there are deep holes in the floors of the gorges that create strong undertows. </p>
<p>I’ve enjoyed the gorges as much as the next person, but the deaths are just so tragic! My heart bleeds for this boy’s friends and family. </p>
<p>I think that, not just the legality, but also the physics of the situation should be explained to all students during orientation. Wouldn’t that help?</p>
<p>A thank you to CayugaRed2005 for helping to inform Cornell students of a very serious danger.</p>
<p>Just make sure you are a decently strong swimmer and that you stay away from the waterfalls and you are fine. I read in the comments to the IJ article that Lowe was not a strong swimmer, despite passing the swim test. The Cornell Chronicle has an article claiming that the administration will be distributing more strongly worded language about the dangers and illegality of gorge swimming.</p>
<p>I too, however, was surprised at how deep that particular swimming hole gets. Granted, I never actually tried to scope out the bottom for obvious safety reasons. It’s still pretty early in the summer and water flow is going to be pretty high.</p>
<p>I swam in the very spot hundreds of times. And I would give just about anything to be skinny dipping in Ithaca right now.</p>
<p>I cannot believe it! He was my cornell days host! RIP</p>
<p>My condolences to the family on this tragic loss. Kdmom- to answer your question, I believe this brochure is given out at orientation. <a href=“http://www.risk.cornell.edu/pdfs/gorgebrochure.pdf[/url]”>http://www.risk.cornell.edu/pdfs/gorgebrochure.pdf</a></p>
<p>RIP Doug – I only met him once, but condolences to friends and family, I know he will be missed.</p>
<p>i miss my best friend i love you dougie</p>
<p>please…everyone who is going to cornell…never swim in the gorges. as they may seem fun and a lot of your friends may be doing it…please…you never know when there may be a strong current…just stay out. water is more dangerous that you could ever know. i know that doug would not want this tragedy to happen to anyone else. you have no idea how hard it has been to cope within the last couple days without him.</p>
<p>
Me too. RIP.</p>
<p>laur – </p>
<p>I’m so sorry for your loss. Doug’s drowning is a tragedy that I think affects all Cornellians – alums, current students, and future students. From what I have read, he seems to be a consumate Cornellian.</p>
<p>whoa, i went to the exact spot from like 230-430 that afternoon, my first time in any gorge, everyone was going down the waterfall many times, my group didn’t but i said ill try right before we left at 430. First time i heard of this too, which is odd.</p>
<p>Uh? Read the papers much? </p>
<p>Don’t go down the waterfalls kids.</p>
<p>oh and its apparently illegal? i didn’t know nor do i remember seeing signs posted</p>
<p>even before this incident, there are numerous things where i wonder if theyre legal or not, but i don’t know where to find out if they are…in fact most laws i know are from hearsay, never seen them written down.</p>