Posted on 12/17/2006 5:20:45 AM PST by Nasty McPhilthy
A trio of climbers, ascended Mount Hood, under adverse winter conditions — to test their survival skills. The intrepid climbers took gear such as food, fuel, bivvy sacks, a shovel and ropes. These men knew they were taking a big risk – or they would not have taken survival gear with them.
Mountain climbing is a sport for the wealthy who can afford to take weeks off from work to indulge in their expensive hobby.
These clowns have been missing for over a week, and the state is expending tens of thousands of dollars in search and resuce operations.
Why is the sheriff’s department and the U.S Forest Service rangers looking for these men who are addicted to danger?
The taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for the foolhardy thrill seekers who knew they were taking a big risk. The families of the climbers should pay for their own search teams; they shouldn’t expect the government to pay for the reckless chance the climbers took.
From USA Today:
“Deputy Gerry Tiffany, spokesman for the Hood River County sheriff’s office, said its office does not charge for its searches.”
I think it’s about time the government starts charging for rescue operations – when it’s a case of adventurers who place themselves in danger.
I’m sick of hearing about the missing climbers; I’m sick of watching the relatives of the missing men on TV praise the courage of the climbers, and I’m sick at the thought that taxpayers are paying for the rescue efforts.
I'd have rescued Col. Percy Fawcett but I wasn't born yet.
That depends on what standard is used to define "wealthy."
You said -- "And, they are. I believe that's SOP."
Where do you get that idea. It's never been that way on Mt. Hood. We've got thousands going up there all the time. There are rapidly changing weather conditions and things like that happen quickly. I don't believe the people in Oregon want charges billed for all the various things that can happen around the state. You've got probably hundreds of thousands going out into the wilderness all the time (as most of the state is wide open and rugged in many places). My view of the feeling of the people is that anyone could go out and get into trouble (in any number of places) and that's just a public service for anyone (of the public) who happens to get into trouble at various times.
Now, Mt. Hood is a fairly well-known spot for many things. Even the common man on the street can go up to the top of Mt. Hood on a nice summer day (still glaciers up there, though) and come back down without hardly a problem. And they do. But, when the weather changes drastically and suddenly, people do get into trouble.
In other words, I think the public there (in Oregon) knows how easy it is to get into trouble in so many place in the state, that they don't want bills coming in for that kind of thing.
Regards,
Star Traveler
Turn off the TV.
But but but... There's no *time*
to show stories about the good
things happening in Iraq and
Afghanistan!!!! Three idiots
got themselves trapped in a
mountain snowstorm, ny going
climbing at the tail end of
the climbing season! By their
own danger taking choice.
Meanwhile, whole cities and
towns, are getting plumbing
and electricity for the *first*
time in Ueaq...schools and
hospitals are being built..
bustling commerbe is being
comducted by ordinary Iraqis
istead of slaving for the wholly
owned companies, run by the Hussiens
and their clan... Roads full of cars
sidewalks full of pedestrians...Radio
stations..hundreds of newspapers,
sattelite TV....
The "<ainstream Media" are all a
pack of anti0americam leftist
plague rat LIARS!!!
By that standard anyone who gets in a car and drives down the road is a Darwin Award candidate.
Should the authorities have searched for and rescued the folks in Gold Beach, Oregon who took the wrong turn? Should the authorities have searched for the couple who was recently found in a submerged car just off the interstate?
What it really boils down to is there are a lot of people, too many, IMO, who are so afraid of dying that they don't know how to live. Taking calculated risks is part of living a full life. Some folks like to live full lives. Others would rather sit on the couch, eat cheesey poofs and watch the world pass them by.....
You said -- "And I was sick of hearing about these guys last Wednesday (I live in the North TX Metroplex)."
We hear about these things a lot in Oregon. You can expect it. So, it's "news" for sure, but it's also expected news and it's nothing new.
I'm headed down to the Metroplex in a few days. You're talking about the DFW Metroplex? I haven't heard it referred to as the North TX Metroplex.
Regards,
Star Traveler
I vote for more talk about Princess Di.
Merry Christmas to you.
Merry Christmas, ray.
I was reading that Everest expeditions can cost up to $65,000, talk about expensive.
Sure....until you are the one who needs the rescue....
Seriously the rescue should continue regardless of the MSM coverage.
They MSM has to cover this because the Mark Foley story can't pan out because the homosexuals of the MSM don't want people to remember it was a homosexual cultivating minors for sexual conquest.
I'm sure they are tired of being lost too.
You said -- "I guess we should just let them rot up there, or freeze."
Well, that happens in Oregon. In fact, a few years back, I remember reading about someone who went hiking or climbing and didn't come back. That was about 30 years back. Well, during one of the summers which were really warm, some of the snow melted off some of those Cascade Range mountains and this guy was found, after all that time. He was finally buried. That was somewhere around mid-state.
And then, up on Mt. Hood, I think I read that the rescue teams were out there looking for one guy that was lost -- instead they found another frozen guy -- never did find the guy they were looking for. So, they came down an an unidentified "stiff" (I don't think they ever identified him) -- and the other one is still up on the mountain somewhere. They'll probably find him when they're looking for someone else who is lost, later on.
Regards,
Star Traveler
Man's body found on beach as Coast Guard calls off search for crew
Well anyone who can afford to take time off of work and spend up to $65,000 for Everest expedition, IMO is wealthy.
At least if we did that, the "picture" rule could make the thread interesting.
When a football player or real (e.g. high school or college) wrestler is injured, we don't spend hundreds of thousands of dollars (if not millions) looking for them.
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