I was not addressing mental health or child abuse laws.
That's good ... I hope those others who were addressing it that way ... will take notice of what I was saying though.
This child is on a self-indulgent trip that may now harm others. There is nothing noble or heroic about this kids trip.
That could be said about all sorts of "adventurers" too. They could all be considered self-indulgent, doing those things, just so they could say that they did it or to show "it could be done" ... age doesn't matter on that one.
And likewise, whenever you have some adventurer get into some kind of trouble, it always causes risks to a number of other rescuers who come to their aid. That's the way it's always been.
I used to live close to Mount Hood (in Oregon) and you would have rescues that would go on there periodically too. It was just part of having a mountain there. You could count on rescues going on, all the time.
Or, at the Oregon Coast, there would be climbers who would get stuck on some rocky outcropping at the beach, when they were climbing where most people wouldn't go. You would have rescuers coming. Or, if you went fishing in your 17-footer, out in the ocean (some people wouldn't take a small boat like that) and they might have to be rescued out in the ocean. Or you get people who are on the rapids (in some river in Oregon) and they would have to be rescued from some problem where they got trapped in a bad position or place in the river.
You might as well get rid of all the outdoor sports and activities and recreation and "adventures" if you're going to talk like that ... :-)
And I don't see that changing any time soon.
It now appears the brain continues to change into the early 20's with the frontal lobes, responsible for reasoning and problem solving, developing last.
LOL ... I just got off a thread about "home-schoolers" where a lot of parents would be "right here" disputing with you about that, telling you that their kid of 14 years old (in being "homeschooled") is as capable and knowledgable and can make as good if not better decisions than those of 20 years old ... :-) ...
I would agree with you there about that decision making process... but I gotta laugh here, because I got "set straight" by a lot of those "homeschoolers" that this was not the case at all ... with their 14 year old kid ... hoo-boy!
I could have used you on that discussion ... I'll call you in next time ... LOL ...
They aren't 16 years old with little concept of the consequences. She can SAY she understands but the realization of mortality comes with age. These threads have several freepers saying that they did things as a young person that they would NEVER do now.
I would agree with you there about that decision making process... but I gotta laugh here, because I got "set straight" by a lot of those "homeschoolers" that this was not the case at all ... with their 14 year old kid ... hoo-boy!
Being smart has little to do with making mature, sensible choices. Few adults will deny themselves and will make dumb choices at times.
I will say that most homeschooled kids are better "grounded" than kids in public schools, surrounded by MTV, peer pressure etc.
However, I'm very certain that these are not 16 year old girls doing this which is why no one stops them. They are adults free to choose their mode of adrenalin rush. That others suffer when they plan poorly or make mistakes and must be put at risk to rescue them fuels a debate that is still raging.
However, those situations are nothing like what this thread is about. This girl should have been given a strict, "No." by her parents who should have simply had the good sense to do all they could to protect this kid from such a foreseeable and preventable demise.
An adult who climbs Mt. Hood is free to choose the mode of their death. And they must go into it realizing that that may very well be the outcome. A 16 year old girl is NOT free to make such a choice or decision. It is incumbent upon the parents...as adults...to make the decision and say "no".
Nothing you can present as evidence or argument will change that or my opinion.