photos, playing in the water. one of the males lost his footing, started to slide down. the second male tried to rescue him. and also lost his footing. then the third person, the female, did. and ununrtunately it was a chain reaction of events and all three were swept over vernal falls. >> i couldn't process why they were in the water whenen first saw it. you know, it was -- because the current was moving so fast. >> two, they were holding onto each other, and one was alone floating through the current. the reason why i looked was this woman was screaming and running along the edge of the water. >> reporter: while search and rescue crews scoured the water, searching for the hikers' bodies. visitors we talked with expressed their concerns and frustrations. >> it's just sad. when people know the water's high. and think they're not going to be the ones, it's safe out there. and it's not. >> reporter: so far this year, there have been six