This is nuts, we have been having an unending stretch of nasty weather since the beginning of November. I'm not a big fan of gov't regulation, but there needs to be some sort of sanity injected into this type of risk taking, make the climbers apply for a permit, the day before such a trek. There is no reason to cause the inevitable rescuers to be subjected to the rigors, expense and risk of the search.
Except the that rescuers are climbers themselves. You've got to be an experienced mountaineer/climber to join any rescue team, and of course *willing* to put yourself at risk.
By your logic you should also be mad at the rescuers for taking the risk of rescuing.
As for the expense, rescue is available to anyone encountering trouble in the outdoors, from the most risk-taking mountaineer to the most hapless and inexperienced hiker. Should we just let them all die?
"but there needs to be some sort of sanity injected into this type of risk taking, make the climbers apply for a permit, the day before such a trek"
When you only have a couple of days to drive/climb and get back to work the hassle of arranging to be at the park HQ between 9:00-5:00 becomes a non-priority.
(Been there done that, but not at Mt. Hood)