Rescuer: Climber who amputated arm had no choice

USA Today ^

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

That was INCHES,,,,, not millimeters. :)

[Calvin Locke]

Well, there is that Mad Max movie in which he gives a hacksaw to the guy to cut either the hand off or try to get through
the handcuffs before the vehicle blows up.

[mountaineer]

the responsiblity should be that of the individual.

With regard to the cost of emergency services, at least in my neck of the woods, the user of ambulance services receives a hefty bill from the fire department. I'm pretty sure that rescue services in the rugged west also bill users of their assistance. In other words, most people do end up taking some sort of financial responsibility for having needed such services, whether through their own negligence or otherwise.

[shotgun]

I'm not without compassion, but once again you miss my point:

Accidents happen everyday and people are hurt or worse yet killed. But this is a free will society and as such those that participate in extreme recreational hobbies should be required to have some sort of insurance that covers them in case of disaster.

We pay billions of dollars to maintain scenic amd wild areas of this country. Part of that cost can be and sometimes is recovered through user fees. For example: if it costs a person $25 fee to camp in a national widerness park, then the person who wants to climb or hike up the 14,000 peak should pay a fee that goes toward the cost of maintaining emergency services for that type of activity.

Posting a simple bond that buys a limited time policy should be a minor inconvienence. Just like buying the best hiking / climbing gear.

Also I'm not saying that the guy in this story wasn't brave to hack off his own arm takes a lot of gumption.

Additional food for thought: Who do you think pays to have air rescue equipment available at all NASCAR events?

[shotgun]

Exactly!

But after they recieve the bill how do they pay it? I would like to see how many of those rescued, including their families were finacially ruined as a result. Plus this cost doesn't even address medical treatment for any injuries.

Post a user bond and their covered! End of story

[ican'tbelieveit]

Oh, so again, we should limit access to who can view/visit/enjoy these peaks to the elite. That makes real sense in my world. No one likes nature more than me, but according to your rules/laws (which take more taxpayer money to enforce) I cannot enjoy this experience. Thank you for deciding that for me.

[LibWhacker]

Well, there's no outcry coming from me. I was just making the oft-repeated observation that if you're going to go out into the wilderness (not on some well-groomed trail in Golden Gate Park frequented by a bunch of fags in pink haltertops holding hands), it's a very good idea to take a friend, or let someone know where you are and when you plan on returning. Is that so hard?

If someone claims to be so knowledgeable about the wilderness that they cannot be hurt (and those who are, are fools) . . . Well, then they're a fool. Anyone can get hurt out there. It's happened to the best of men. And if it happens to you, you'll wish to high heaven somebody knew where you were. And for this the Mystery Fag attacks me? Eff that flaming, limp-wristed idiot.

[ican'tbelieveit]

So, let me see (btw, have you even seen the mtns in colorado?), I tell my next door neighbor I am going to Eldora hiking and I should be home by 6 pm. I don't show. What is going to happen, a search and rescue will be launched for me, and guess what, we are back at the same situation, whether I tell someone where I am or not. And you really seem concerned about Mystery's sexuality, maybe some latent homosexuality in your life?

[headsonpikes]

I don't know why you're participating in the destruction of your own thread.

It started out well. This was a remarkable story of human grit.

[shotgun]

How is that limiting access? The last time I went to Olympic National Park they, the feds, wanted $50 dollars just to enter. I turned around and drove away. My personal choice. I went down to the beach instead.

If you have a hobby you should expect to pay for that hobby! If you can't afford to pay for it, I and every other taxpayer shouldn't have to give you the money for it!!!

So let me get this straight:

1) if your gas tank is empty and you want to climb, I need to pay that...

2) after I pay for you gas, you discover that your rope needs replaced, I need to pay for that...

3) after I pay for your gas and your rope and you drive to to the widerness area and discover tbat the cost to climb has gone from $50 for park fees plus a new bond of say $250, which would go into the mountain rescue fund, I would have to pay for that too..

Where does this cycle end? You know one of the reasons I quit chewing tobacco and smoking was the cost. But I still enjoy fine AMERICAN made wines so would you buy me my next case so I can feel good about myself??

[Feiny]

Ouch....if I were a man, that would hurt.

[LibWhacker]

Yes, I've been to the Colorado Rockies many times -- as a kid. Beautiful place. We used to vacation there.

You seem to think that I think that a rescued person shouldn't bear some financial responsibility for his rescue, even if he's done something exceedingly boneheaded. That's absolutely untrue.

Why do you want to do away with all search and rescue operations? Don't you think anyone deserves to be saved in an emergency? How do you feel about police, fire and taxpayer-funded Level I trauma centers? Do you want to go back to the days when everybody had their own outhouse? To hell with taxpayer-funded sewage and sanitation! (Just a bit of your own peculiar logic thrown back at 'ya!)

[LibWhacker]

Okay, you're right about that. I'm outta here. I don't know why I allow myself to be drawn into this totally off-point crap. (Not my thread, though, thanks . . . Sorry, HLL!)

[shotgun]

Misstery and icantbelieveit must be suffering oxygen deprivation up thar in them mountians.

But you know us evil American elitists..we'll be first on their list in the next great peasant uprising.

[headsonpikes]

My apologies. Great story, though.

[ican'tbelieveit]

I do pay for the hobby thru taxes. I pay income tax, I pay sales tax, fuel taxes. There is a HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN a $20 tank of gas to go hiking vs the "bond" to cover the cost of a rescue you are so sold on. Do you think that it just costs $20 to run that helicopter?

I never said I expected for you to pay for me to get there. I said the idea of an exorbitant bond was ridiculous considering that I already pay taxes on everything now.

That is an elitist pov, that only the rich should enjoy the things that I pay taxes to support too. And I am not a climber, but I do enjoy a periodic hike in the mountains. And I do pay my own way to do that, from the car payment, to the fuel to the park fee. But if you had your way, you would add an additional charge onto this hike because I might break a bone and need a helicopter to get me out. How about making me pay for the helicopter if I actually need it, instead of a what if? What are you going to do with that bond if I walk out of the mtns without a scratch on me?

So why don't you stop being ridiculous and focus on the point I was addressing.

[husky ed]

That is an elitist pov,

What is elitist, is that you would hike up the side of a mountain thinking that if something happens the U.S. Army will come and save your butt for free.

[ican'tbelieveit]

Well, gee, I suppose that is the same as you walking to your car today and hoping that if something happens the police or paramedics will come and save your butt for free.

I haven't said that, again, you must not be able to read. I stated, clearly, why not charge me for the helicopter rescue if I actually use it, instead of insisting I pay for a service that I, in all likelihood will never use.

[husky ed]

No the police and paramedics are required by law to protect me. Though I do not rely on them. As I will take care of matters before they get there.

The U.S. Army on the other hand is not required to operate on U.S. soil and as is pointed by every screaming liberal, it is against the law if they do so.

Talking about taxes. The taxes I pay for local services go to the police and paramedics to serve me. The taxes I pay to the Federal Government for the military are to protect the Country. Not to endager a BlackHawk to rescue some fool who thinks he's the next Sir Hillary Clinton.

As for you hiking into the woods and enjoying them, have at it. Just if something happens to you, enjoy that "leg of ican".

[ican'tbelieveit]

Your taxes also go to pay for public lands. Since you pay for it, do you think that you should then be limited on top of that on how you access them? They are after all YOUR LANDS since your tax $$$ pays for it!!!!!!!!!