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"The motivation of the thrill of any emergency personnel occupation is to save lives and not simply to have fun. The motivation for the three mountain climbers was to fulfill a recreational need that in the process has created a dangerous situation for many lives."

I believe it is you that is missing the point. Both the rescuers and the climbers, IMO, are motivated by the challenge. That's what is behind our space exploration, ocean exploration, any exploration. The challenge, curiosity, and the exhilaration that goes along with conquering new territories, discovery, physical and mental mettle testing, all qualities that are necessary to the survival of the species. That's us. Nothing would have been gained in the world without the risk takers.

We have already made wimps of too many of our men in our society. I'm all for men being men, and doing what many men do, and part of that is to challenge their environment, and take risks. You can see it on the playground when little boys are young, and climb to the highest part of the jungle jim, while most little girls look on. It's a boy thing. I'm sick to death of too many women wanting to make men just like them, and/or too many men, sitting on their butts complaining about other men who actually get off their duffs and take risks.

Even in business, where bankruptcy is a real threat, most often it is men who jump in feet first to establish new ventures. Without risk, no society would move forward. Give me a manly man anyday. I don't like wimps. Too many Democratic men are wimps (think Alan Colmes of Hannity and Colmes, as an example).

These men were experienced climbers who knew the dangers and had climbed many times before. When you are out in nature, you always are surrounded by potential danger, as the victims of Katrina found out. Rescuing these climbers gives the search teams extra practice and experience on how to deal with a new rescue scenario, which adds to the body of knowledge on how to do rescues. An analogy would be our U.S. troops. Unless they eventually end up in battle some day, everything they have learned is theoretical unless put into practice at some point. Obviously there are risks to battle, but the troops gain experience in actual warfare and become better warriors for it. Man has been climbing mountains forever, out of need, or out of desire. I admire them.

I believe it is you that is missing the point. Both the rescuers and the climbers, IMO, are motivated by the challenge. That's what is behind our space exploration, ocean exploration, any exploration. The challenge, curiosity, and the exhilaration that goes along with conquering new territories, discovery, physical and mental mettle testing, all qualities that are necessary to the survival of the species. That's us. Nothing would have been gained in the world without the risk takers.

All these explorers were able to fulfill their desires without jeopardizing the lives of others and did so for the benefit of not only themselves but of society. The three climbers on Mt. Hood were not motivated to serve humanity. They were motivated to serve their own personal desires.

We have already made wimps of too many of our men in our society. I'm all for men being men, and doing what many men do, and part of that is to challenge their environment, and take risks. You can see it on the playground when little boys are young, and climb to the highest part of the jungle jim, while most little girls look on. It's a boy thing. I'm sick to death of too many women wanting to make men just like them, and/or too many men, sitting on their butts complaining about other men who actually get off their duffs and take risks.

Even in business, where bankruptcy is a real threat, most often it is men who jump in feet first to establish new ventures. Without risk, no society would move forward. Give me a manly man anyday. I don't like wimps. Too many Democratic men are wimps (think Alan Colmes of Hannity and Colmes, as an example).

You're straying from the subject of the thread. Once again it's about the circumstances of the three mountain climbers.

These men were experienced climbers who knew the dangers and had climbed many times before.

They should have considered the danger they create for others and not just themselves.

When you are out in nature, you always are surrounded by potential danger, as the victims of Katrina found out.

Poor analogy. The katrina victims weren't knowingly and willingly attempting to place themselves in danger! They didn't go into the Gulf Of Mexico to experience the full fury of a hurricane! They were in their own homes! Big difference!

Rescuing these climbers gives the search teams extra practice and experience on how to deal with a new rescue scenario, which adds to the body of knowledge on how to do rescues.

The search teams didn't require the climbers to place themselves in a life threatening situaion simply so the rescuers can practice.

An analogy would be our U.S. troops. Unless they eventually end up in battle some day, everything they have learned is theoretical unless put into practice at some point.

Guess what it means if our troops never go into battle? We have peace! Ignoring that fact, they don't sit around hoping for war. The climbers wanted to climb the north side of an 11,000 foot mountain in December, on its more dangerous side.

Obviously there are risks to battle, but the troops gain experience in actual warfare and become better warriors for it.

What is also obvious is they do so to save the lives of Americans. They mountain climbers motivations were not altruistic but selfish to the point of risking lives.

Man has been climbing mountains forever, out of need, or out of desire. I admire them.

I admire any climber who attempts who does not put others in harms way.