I’m Tired Of Hearing About The Missing Mt. Hood Climbers

MND ^ | December 17, 2006 | By Robert Paul Reyes

[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.

[null and void]

Have yourself a drink, I'd say you could use one and I could probably derive some benefit of it.

I'm stealing that line...

[bray]

Save the lecture since I was born and raised here in Oregon.

These storms have been far more severe than the last few years and especially the one they were caught in. They were foolhardy to attempt that climb knowing they had a small window going up the most difficult face. That was foolhardy.

Now hundreds of people have to risk their lives for these guys thrill seeking.

Some of us are getting tired of the Katrina menatlity that people can live risky lives and the gummit has to make sure they are not hurt.

Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters

[Star Traveler]

You said -- "However it is very hard to feel sorry for those who DELIBERATELY enter a winter storm on a mountain for kicks and giggles."

I've driven up Mt. Hood to Timberline Lodge in the middle of a snow storm, got a room and stayed there. Now, if I had ventured out into the parking lot, they might have had to call a rescue crew for me. But, instead, I stayed up on the second floor of the lodge and reached out the window to reach the snow.

Heck, people go up there all the time in snow storms. They might even slide off the road into a ditch in a snow storm. You drive the main highway (going into Eastern Oregon) and you could hit a snow storm.

You can go up there on a nice day, walk up the line where the lift is and get caught in a snow storm before you can even get back to the lodge. People have been lost that way before. But, it doesn't stop people in Oregon.

People don't stay off Mt. Hood because of snow, not in Oregon...

Regards,
Star Traveler

[elfman2]

"I’m sick of hearing about the missing climbers; I’m sick of watching.."

More… I think adventure sports like mountain climbing have at least as big a role in inspiring the general public to excellence as the space program and at a fraction of the cost to taxpayers. Requiring hikers to purchase hundreds or thousands of dollars of insurance would cripple the sport, leaving otherwise healthy invigorated and motivated participants laying on their fat ass sucking down beers and complaining to blogs about what kind of TV shows he’s “forced” to watch like this loser .

Suck it up. You want taxpayer funding for one service like rescue coordination that’s not in the constitution eliminated, do it for all. I can go either way. Then you can complain all about the unregulated crap you’re forced to watch on TV as society degenerates.

[Star Traveler]

You said -- "Look, "because its there" is fine. It is the deliberate decision to do the climb in December that I take issue with."

Well, it's not the mentality in Oregon, from what I know from being there. Climbing in the winter is perfectly fine. Just be prepared and trained -- that's all. People respect that in Oregon.

Regards,
Star Traveler

[NittanyLion]

The galleries are full of critics. They play no ball, they fight no fights. They make no mistakes because they attempt nothing. Down in the arena are the doers. They make mistakes because they try many things. The person who makes no mistakes lacks boldness and the spirit of adventure. He is the one who never tries anything. His is the brake on the wheel of progress. And yet it cannot be truly said he makes no mistakes, because his biggest mistake is the very fact that he tries nothing, does nothing, except criticize those who do things.

Good post.

[Star Traveler]

You said -- "Some states and I also think the National Park Service do in fact bill these nut jobs for the search and rescue efforts."

It might go over okay in some "protective states" -- but it wouldn't fly at all in Oregon...

Regards,
Star Traveler

[randita]

I agree. I don't have a problem with people desiring and engaging in dangerous activities. I understand it in this prefabricated, push button world. However, if they want to engage in extremely dangerous activities they should get the full measure of the danger which would include either no rescue or required payment for rescue operations. Personally, I would prefer no rescue as the rescue attempt places innocent lives at risk.

If there were no "official" rescue, there would be ad hoc groups of mountaineers going up there to help. The SAR has been getting dozens of calls from climbers all throughout the country who want to come and help. They've got way more folks wanting to help than can be part of the team and also you have to have specialized training to help. You could try to ban official rescues, there would be people clambering up the mountainside on their own attempting to help. That's just the way we are. We help people in trouble, no matter what the cause, and thank God for that.

[null and void]

A big comfy couch.

Now stop clowning around and get back on topic...

[AlexW]

"Folks, society bears the time and cost of these recovery operations because it is this sort of risk taking and bold action that makes this nation great. While this particular expedition didn't turn out well, the net effect of all expeditions is a positive one for society."

You also take it out of context...For you any daredevil action is fine, and you are willing to help pay for it.

There is a difference in flying to the moon, and being stupid. These guys would have my support if they had set up a ground crew, or carried proper communications equipment.
Usually a adventure like this has a caveat "At your own risk". This was NOT an expedition. It was a few guys that decided to hike up a mountain at a bad time.
Leaving a note at some unmanned ranger post, to be found only by accident, is hardly a plan.

Will you pay for my funeral if I drive a motorcycle into a brick wall?

Really, I expect them to be found alive, but with todays technology, they could have done a better job of preparation.

[Big Horn]

We have had hunters call their wives telling them they were stranded in camp because of a snowstorm and after much expense and hard work trying to find them they were found cozy in their camps playing poker and drinking whiskey. The local taxpayer picked up the bill for them "calling wolf".

[Nasty McPhilthy]

You ask "Who defines necessary?"

Well, just for starters, my employer.

He says that it is necessary that I be at work each and every day. Doesn't matter to him if I have to drive a car, ride a motorcycle, fly a plane, take a boat, walk, swim, hop ,skip,or jump to get there.

When I ask him for time off to go climb a mountain, he says it isn't necessary.

[killjoy]

It might go over okay in some "protective states" -- but it wouldn't fly at all in Oregon...

Have they changed the laws to let you guys pump your own gas yet? :)

[airborne]

Natalee Holloway

[randita]

Climbing a 11k foot mountain in winter is not a "Calculated Risk". It is utter stupidity,

Totally depends on your level of skill, fitness, experience and preparedness.

For me, it would be "utter stupidity" to clamp on a pair of snow skis and try to ski down the bunny hill as I'm in my 50's and never skiied before. Yet I've seen young children effortlessly ski down expert slopes.

It's all relative and hindsight is 20/20.

[sissyjane]

If you educate yourself about Mt. Hood, and climbing it, you will learn that when the snow melts, or is melting is the most dangerous time. There are rock slides, and showers of ice pellets and rocks. I am not a climber, but have been reading about it. The snow bridges over the crevices also melt.....

[Man50D]

First off I do not know the individuals involved, and I don't think you do either, so saying they willingly put themselves in a dangerous situation shouldn't be part of this conversation.

I don't need to know them personally to understand they chose to climb the more dangerous north side of Mt. Hood and did so during a time of year when weather conditions on the mountain are most severe.

You seam to be saying that some lives are less worthy of saving than others.

Oh I see, I shouldn't make statements about the climbers because I don't know them personally but you are justified to make statements about me even though you don't know me personally.

You might feel it is your job to place judgment on others for their actions, I don't. My job is to pull them out, not to play God.

It is my choice not to encourage people who have little regard for the consequences of their actions by committing behavior that will put at risk the lives of others. It is they are playing god with others lives.

[randita]

It's always interesting to read these threads. You get the sense that if the world's views reflected those of many people on this thread, Columbus never would have sailed. Alan Shepard would never have taken his ride. Ernest Shackleton and Edmund Hillary would be unknowns. Chuck Yeager would have stuck to driving his car. And the list goes on.

Well said. The Lewis and Clark Expedition also comes to mind -- never would have gotten off the ground.

[sissyjane]

Great forum for learning.

[san juan]

Why shouldn't the cost of any such adventure include the cost of insurance to pay for any rescue attempts?