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 sheriffs department and the U.S Forest Service rangers looking for these men who are addicted to danger?
The taxpayers shouldnt 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 shouldnt expect the government to pay for the reckless chance the climbers took.
From USA Today:
Deputy Gerry Tiffany, spokesman for the Hood River County sheriffs office, said its office does not charge for its searches.
I think its about time the government starts charging for rescue operations when its a case of adventurers who place themselves in danger.
Im sick of hearing about the missing climbers; Im sick of watching the relatives of the missing men on TV praise the courage of the climbers, and Im sick at the thought that taxpayers are paying for the rescue efforts.
I'm stealing that line...
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
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
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 hes forced to watch like this loser .
Suck it up. You want taxpayer funding for one service like rescue coordination thats not in the constitution eliminated, do it for all. I can go either way. Then you can complain all about the unregulated crap youre forced to watch on TV as society degenerates.
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
Good post.
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
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.
Now stop clowning around and get back on topic...
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.
Have they changed the laws to let you guys pump your own gas yet? :)
Natalee Holloway
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.
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.....
Well said. The Lewis and Clark Expedition also comes to mind -- never would have gotten off the ground.
Great forum for learning.
Why shouldn't the cost of any such adventure include the cost of insurance to pay for any rescue attempts?
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