Yosemite's newest thrill: Running through a 'dangerous' waterfall

Yosemite's Wapama Falls -- the 148th tallest waterfall in the world -- roars down on the falls' footbridges above Hetch Hetchy reservoir. The bridges had been closed until recently due to the high volume of water crashing over them. less Yosemite's Wapama Falls -- the 148th tallest waterfall in the world -- roars down on the falls' footbridges above Hetch Hetchy reservoir. The bridges had been closed until recently due to the high volume of ... more Photo: Mike Moffitt/SFGate Photo: Mike Moffitt/SFGate Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close Yosemite's newest thrill: Running through a 'dangerous' waterfall 1 / 17 Back to Gallery

Laughter turned to shrieks as torrents of whitewater lashed the hikers. Bare-chested men squealed like little children. Hairdos were wrecked, clothing drenched.

Welcome to Yosemite's newest water attraction: Running the Wapama Falls Footbridges Gauntlet.

Until a few days ago, the bridges overlooking Hetch Hetchy reservoir were closed due to the enormous volume of snowmelt water blasting over the spans, which are an impressive work of national park infrastructure considering the hydraulic beating they're been taking following a drought-busting winter.

As the flow on the Falls River has slowed a bit, rangers reopened the mist-cloaked crossing. A sign warns visitors: "DANGEROUS HIGH WATER ... CROSS AT YOUR OWN RISK." There's no height requirement like you might find at on an amusement park ride, but parents would be wise to keep small children off the footbridges or at least hold them firmly as they cross.

If you do decide to venture over the bridges, plan on whatever you are wearing — shirt, pants, backpacks, socks, shoes, underwear — getting thoroughly soaked. And it's not going to be a nice, tepid Hawaiian waterfall-type dousing either.

Instead, expect to be fire-hosed with frigid water that until recently was part of a snowdrift.

But since daily highs at Yosemite are now in the mid-to-high 80s, jogging into a thundering, 1,080-foot cataract might just be ticket for returning backpackers wearing three days' worth of trail grime.

They'll certainly smell better on the drive back to civilization.