[JoeProBono]

[HighlyOpinionated]

Let them win the Darwin awards.

Or charge them for the rescues.

Ignorance is not bliss, and it should be costly.

[ClearCase_guy]

Sometimes I think that people who ask for help should have napalm dropped on them.

[SIDENET]

When rescuers found them, the hikers were worried they might become dehydrated because the water they found tasted salty. They declined an evacuation, and the crew left water.

Charge these idiots for the rescues.

[joesjane]

This might actually spawn a new business that could contract rescue service for the locator beacon companies. I could see prior service SF guys starting up a service like that. I

[gaijin]

My friend in Fresno (year Yosemite) says pals of his once responded to a guy who called for a helicopters because HE WAS TIRED.

And no, he was not lost.

[rawcatslyentist]

Thank G_d they still had chicken mc nuggets!

We might have had to have had a trillion $$$ bailout! Again!

[Daffynition]

Up here in the mountains, they get charged.

Search and rescue is for accidents, not the unprepared!!!!

[Viking2002]

Empirical evidence that, if or when a national or planetary disaster occurs, metrosexuals will be some of the first to perish, and probably quick.

[Stultis]

Seems odd they evacuated them after a third gratuitous call. Surely the park rangers knew of some place where the bodies could be hidden.

[driftdiver]

The really bad thing about this is if there are enough of these incidents the PLBs will probably get a lot more expensive or impossible to buy.

[Pan_Yan]

I’ve got to print this one out and take it to the other Boy Scout leaders tomorrow. If you haven’t contemplated cannibalism you aren’t in real trouble yet.

[4Speed]

ping

[DemforBush]

"Last month two men and their teenage sons tackled one of the world's most unforgiving summertime hikes: the Grand Canyon's parched and searing Royal Arch Loop."

Evidence, I think, of just how far removed much of society has become from the realities of nature. These folks were likely in over their head from moment one. Royal Arch Loop is a very difficult trail, with plenty of hazards for even experienced hikers:

[2harddrive]

These people are selfish loser weaklings.

[tpmintx]

As a survivor of the worst winter storm seen at Philmont Scout Ranch in 20-30 years, I believe that I know the difference between discomfort and danger. After several years of involvement with Boy Scouts, I also understand the need for preparation - both in knowing your route vs. your capabilities, as well as conditions vs. your equipment.

We were camping in the back-country in December 2007, when we had over 36” of snow dumped on us between 5PM and noon, and 50+MPH winds most of the night. We were not comfortable, but we were not in danger, because we were prepared for conditions. It took them 3-4 hours to clear 2 miles of road to get back to us. They asked us all to return to base camp, because they did not want to be responsible for keeping that road open. With 100+ scouts and adults in the back country, they needed to be able to ensure that they had the ability to evacuate emergencies. We were stuck at base camp for 3 days because all of the roads out were closed.

In the British Virgin Islands, they do not have governmental resources for search and rescue. There is a commercial operation that is paid for like insurance. VISAR will come save you if you have paid.

I hate to see our SAR services abused like this. “My latte is cold, I need a fresh one from Starbucks? IT IS AN EMERGENCY!!! I MEAN IT!”

We need some methodology for holding people accountable for their actions. Oh wait, 0bama is president. The only accountability now is from those who are able to those who are not. :(