[randita]

However, if the circumstances are so dangerous and wrecklessly life threatening - can we ask that participants take all necessary precautions to ensure their own survival?

It's quite probable they did. They were said to be experienced mountaineers. No matter what precautions you've taken and what supplies you carry to meet any challenge, accidents can happen which require more than what you have in your arsenal to meet or equipment which tests out perfectly fine can fail on you.

I've heard that when you hike down into the Grand Canyon in the summer, a ranger will prevent you from proceeding past the last water source, unless you have water bottles filled with adequate amounts of water. But still people get sick or injured and have to be rescued. I've hiked there in spring and fall and this wasn't the case, but temps are not severe then.

[sodpoodle]

"No matter what precautions you've taken and what supplies you carry to meet any challenge, accidents can happen which require more than what you have in your arsenal.."

The following are excerpts from The Oregonian paper.>>>>

The locator units are worn on a sash across the chest and can be rented for a fee of $5 for unlimited use. The three climbers, who were climbing fast and light, were not carrying the units.

"People who climb this way cut weight any way they can," Portland Mountain Rescue President Steve Rollins said. "They trim down straps on their gear -- we're talking grams."

---

Clunes rejoined the mountain rescue team after a climb of Three-Fingered Jack, an Oregon volcano. He and a buddy had spoken with other climbers at the summit and learned the next day that one died in a fall. He felt like he needed to get back into it.

Do this outdoor stuff long enough -- push yourself into the wild -- and eventually you're going to get caught, Clunes said. These three missing climbers just got caught, he reasoned.