Posted on 12/17/2006 3:43:18 PM PST by ConservativeMan55
One climber found dead on Mt. Hood
Forgive me occupied ga, I was agreeing with you and trying to add to it. I didn't mean to make it sound like I was attacking you.
My heart really does go out to the families of these guys. I think the shame of being related to someone as stupid as these three guys were would almost be enough to make me change my name and move to the Sudan; and I'm a Christian.
"I find it impossible to believe that evey resource used in looking for these guys was at no cost to the taxpayers."
You're being deliberately deaf to what I'm saying.
For the last time:
The mountain rescue teams that go up on the mountain with crampons and ropes and ice axes and rescue gear are volunteer *mountaineers* who belong to 501(c)3 mountain rescure organizations such as Portland Mountain Rescue and the Crag Rats.
They are volunteers, not public servants. They do not accept payment or charge for their services (which is why they have 501(c)3 status).
Helicopter pilots are not "mountain rescue". The Hood River sheriff's office is not "mountain rescue". National Guard units performing support activities are not "mountain rescue".
The people on the ground, with gear and experience and determination, are "mountain rescue". The 70 guys on the mountain yesterday were "mountain rescue". Anyone with a red jacket that says "RESCUE" is "mountain rescue".
"Mountain rescue" does not cost the taxpayer one penny.
You can (and probably should) direct your efforts at completely defunding all SAR activities (e.g., military, local law enforcement). I wish you success.
Then you'll have nothing to say as mountain rescue activities continue unabated as they always have, with private funding and volunteer effort.
There are people that would argue whether the war is "for a good reason". It's all perspective. To the families of these guys, right now, the emotions are very real and probably very similar to a military family. Despite other people's perspectives.
BACK IN REALITY - It was announced that the body found yesterday was, as expected, that of Climber Kelly James.
I now return you to your wonderful conversation about how stupid Kelly james was, and how his selfishness has ruined any chance for world peace or a balanced budget. Please, carry on.
"Ya know? I don't give a rat's rear if it's 1 millionth of a penny."
Fine. Get it defunded and we won't have to listen to the ranting and keening of your ilk.
Mountain rescue will continue as it is now and always has been, through volunteer effort and private donations.
"I agree - what the heck are we arguing about then?"
Because there are predictable unintended consequences to your solution, and we will pay the price in many more lives lost.
Not just climbers, either.
Hear hear.
Where I come from, this thread would be considered shameful.
Bless that family through their pain.
Well said.
No thats not what I meant. There are tons of things that people can do that help them experience life to the fullest. My heroes are the ones who search for cancer cures, solve the mysteries of physics, and even the ones who simply raise great families.
Most of what I do I don't consider dangerous at all. I get most of my enjoyment from sharing it others. Watching the Sun rise from the top of the Tetons isn't any fun without someone I love, to watch it with. I get a kick out of taking Young Eagles on their first flight, especially when they run back to their parents to tell them all about the flight.
The people I feel sorry for are the ones that spend all their time working and watching TV, who just get old and die, afraid to even attempt their dreams. Anything worth doing has its risks, starting a new business, writing a book or painting a picture.
If you have a dream go for it! And at the very least try to help others accomplish their dreams instead of hindering them.
Thank you.
"Perfect time to tackle Britton Hill"
LOL. I thought it was Mount Trashmore on US 41 on the Lee/Charlotte County line. Since Charley that puppy has got to be 500 feet.
Once it leaves your pocket, it doesn't belong to you. And that rat could care less about your personal wish.
My opinion is that is for a good and better reason. I am sorry to hear that the one family lost a son, and the others may have. The one thing I can see that absolutely compares to serving in the military is watching the helicopter pilots put their lives on the line for others.
The alternative is to have a bunch of government boot lickers manadate that activity X is off limits for either certain time periods, or always.
For young healthy people, climbing Mt. Hood is the challenge, but it could be equally life challenging to decide you want to walk 20 blocks when you're 90 years old. If you go down then, you're going to consume the resources of society, and I'd posit that the number of elderly who require recovery from trips to the park or walks around the block FAR exceed the number who require recovery from climbing expeditions.
Having "no public rescue" periods would probably also diminish the number of failed expeditions too, because the perception that you will be rescued probably injects a certain amount of moral hazard insurance into the decision to attempt the activity...
No one lives forever, and no amount of government robbery and squandering can cure all ills. you sound like Sara Brady whining about gun control "If it saves just one life it will be worth it." Uh no. Sorry, if you choose to push the envelop in what is already a risky sport (by going WINTER climbing when a storm is forecast), you are not brave or admirable. You're just foolhardy. Everest has lots of frozen corpses of guys who were one hell of a lot better prepared and experienced than these three were.
Then you have no business participating in it.
Bless that family through their pain.
Agreed - prayers for the families, but it isn't the people on this thread that caused them the pain it was the foolhardy behavior of the three climbers that is 100% to blame for their and their families problems.
In the words of Dirty Harry, "A man's got to know his limitations."
Back in reality about 6000 people die in the USA every day. Most of them have families who are just as devastated, but most of them aren't dead due to something that is entirely their own fault. I don't see any great outpouring of sympathy on this thread for people who died yesterday of colon cancer, heart disease, pulmonary embolism, ruptured aneurysms, or murder.
That's it. You've crossed the line.
Your comments are truly despicable.
Just so.
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