[Vegas_Cabbie]

I have heard on several occasions now that Lake Mead is dangerous... I'm still somewhat new out here and don't know exactly what people mean by that.
I know this is a rather vague question, but I've heard it multiple times now... Are we talking "The Hills Have Eyes" dangerous, or people getting plastered and accidentally drowning kind of dangerous?

[von949]

It's only "dangerous" because people take it for granted as if it's not a "real lake".(which I have heard several times). I have also heard people say "it's just a shallow man made lake, no big deal".

So, people go out to the middle of it and party, drink, get crazy without life vest or any other safety/floatation device, then jump right in. "WOOHOO!!!!! VEGAS BABY!!!!!"

Someone once told me that Lake Mead doesn't have any heavy currents, don't know if this is true.

[johninvegas]

The problem with the lake is that it is dangerous when the winds kick up. If it's a windy day, there is actually surf on the lake, lots of swells and waves. This makes boating quite dangerous. Also, anyone who says "it's just a shallow man-made lake," doesn't know what they're talking about. Even now, at some points, the lake is more than 400 feet deep.

[BBMW]

People can drown in their own bathtub. So anything with water deep enough that they can't stand up in it, and big enough that someone can't swim to shore (if they can swim in the first place), could be considered dangerous. I can't see it being more dangerous than any other big lake.

[Vegas_Cabbie]

Yeah that's what I was wondering is sometimes people make it seem to be EXTRA hazardous compared to other big lakes.
I'm sure there was quite a bit of toxic dumping at one point... Maybe even some mobsters with chains attached, haha...

[von949]

I think the last three people to drown/disappear in our lake were not wearing any type of floatation device at all and were intoxicated.

[EA]

Originally Posted by Vegas_Cabbie

Yeah that's what I was wondering is sometimes people make it seem to be EXTRA hazardous compared to other big lakes.
I'm sure there was quite a bit of toxic dumping at one point... Maybe even some mobsters with chains attached, haha...

My guess is the prevalence of alcohol, and lack of inhibition = danger. To blame it on the lake, though, is quite ignorant as it lacks sentience.

[SoHoVe]

What I find shocking is that it's usually people who live here IN THE DESERT who end up succumbing to heat stroke hiking out there during the summers...I would think they would have bit more sense in the heat.

Lake Mead is a national recreation area...ALOT is allowed out there that would get you booted from a national park.

There are sportsmen who have been on the lake probably hundreds of times over their lifetime without incident. It's mostly the people who don't respect the laws of nature and use common sense who find themselves in deep trouble out there and yes some of them don't survive the experience.

[Clarkcty]

Just be careful where you jump, because of water clarity or the lack of it, you have no idea of what is under the water, like sharp jagged rocks.

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by von949

It's only "dangerous" because people take it for granted as if it's not a "real lake".(which I have heard several times). I have also heard people say "it's just a shallow man made lake, no big deal".

So, people go out to the middle of it and party, drink, get crazy without life vest or any other safety/floatation device, then jump right in. "WOOHOO!!!!! VEGAS BABY!!!!!"

Someone once told me that Lake Mead doesn't have any heavy currents, don't know if this is true.

I've never heard those remarks about Lake Mead before, but it can be dangerous when the wind kicks up, and the whitecaps are six feet high, and you are in a small boat. Those large cabin cruisers don't have any problem. Drunks are another problem. Also, now that the water level is lower than normal, it has exposed some rocks that people weren't used to seeing before. Drive your boat like a sane person, watch the weather reports, and you'll be OK.

Oh, yeah. There is one little bitty Lach Mead Monster that sometimes eats people.