Posted on 12/17/2006 3:43:18 PM PST by ConservativeMan55
One climber found dead on Mt. Hood
Why should I? I live where I can see Mt. Rainier and the weather changes OFTEN in one day there!!
You should google mountaineering because you don't know what you are talking about with your ignorant posts about not climbing in the winter.
Hmm I wonder why they take ice axes? It's part of the sport. Glad you have a nice view, if not you can buy some Ansel Adams shots.
Reap what you sow.
Climbing is just stupid and what about his family. This dead man would still be alive if he were a bowler.
lmao. Probably representative of many the enforcers of the pursuit of happiness on here.
No more beer, twinkies and trans fats I hereby decree. lol.
"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."
You are no Christian.
I know you progressives think that whats yours is yours and what's mine is yours but sadly this is a country where I can petition my representatives to take back what the progressives have stolen from me and other hardworking tax payers. This is one reason Bush was elected in the first place.
Remember the tax cuts? I'll be pushing for more after this Mt. Hood fiasco. ;-)
That said, virtually all the people up on the mountain are private SAR folks anyway. I highly doubt that local emergency response is doing much of anything other than providing some coordination. I wouldn't have a problem with privatizing these highly specialized, technical efforts.
The brother of Kelly James spoke at a family news conference after the official search presser. He said searchers have described a ring they found on the deceased climber that had Kelly's initials on it. Also, a cell phone was found with the body. Based on these and other things, the brother said he and the family has concluded that the body is that of Kelly James.
Excuse my cynicism, but it is also sad that American Taxpayers are required to fund the massive rescue operation that results from the industrial-grade stupidity of trying to climb Mt Hood in the winter.
Are you serious? I mean, if someone is up there with a broken leg and can't get down the mountain...you would just leave him up there?
Nice attempt at drama, along with a carefull application of straw man illogic with the stupid car accident scenario.
The point was that there would be CLEARLY POSTED no PUBLIC rescue efforts undertaken between periods X and Y. I'm sure there will still be plenty of people willing to undertake rescue via their own resources. Hell, I'd go up after someone. The point is to NOT give bureaucrats the opportunity to "solve the problem".
Just like a myriad of other issues, if left as it is, after this occurance there will be reams of hand wringing morons and media whores bleating "There aught to be a LAW" and sure as the sun shines some idiot politician will propose it (i.e. banning winter climbing) and it will eventually get passed.
I don't pray for those whom I despise.
Please point to where I said I despise any of them.
Your recent comments show a certain desperation to them.
If there's a necessary purpose behind the activity, then absolutely, but to take these risks in the kind of weather there for no reason other than personal gratification is about ego.
The most disturbing thing for me about this thread and those that take the "he got what he asked for" and the "oh well, we'll look for ya next spring" attitude is this:
Nobody lives their life without making decisions that others think are stupid, or deceisions that somehow have affected the current condition they are in. This can be eating habits that lead to poor health, or less than admirable driving habits, or a sport that causes injury, or whatever.
God forbid they have a child, or a loved one, who makes a wrong decision, or does something "stupid" and finds themselves fighting for their life. They would think about it differently. They wouldn't be saying, "Oh well, Johnny, you drove dangerously and now are laying on the side of the road, if you can drag yourself to the hospital and prove you can pay for it, we'll see what we can do to help you."
And for those that are whining about all the people dying for other reasons everyday .. HELLO!! this particular thread and story is about lost climbers.
How dare you say that because I am mourning a young someone who just died of heart failure (and I am), that I can't have compassion for the families of these missing men.
Thank God for SAR. These dedicated and hardworking volunteers that live day to day for the opportunity to help someone who has found themselves (by their own hand or otherwise) unable to help themselves.
I'm not sure why my name was included in your post. You might want to read my post 375, I totally agree with you.
LilyBean
I included several who were shocked at the callousness of some of the comments. I appreciated your comment.
On that presumption one should naturally conclude that climbing Everest is always ego.
Get to know a little about climbing and you'll come to a whole different point of view. It's an extreme sport and ego has virtually nothing to do with it. Furthermore, winter climbing is a completely different sport than rock climbing or summer climbing. It requires different training and equipment.
I have done some winter trekking (and a little bit of winter climbing) and its incredible to be in such an environment. However, it's no more ego driven than snowshoeing or crosscountry skiing. Ego just has nothing to do with it.
I think this thread has gotten all bent out of shape because some folks can't comprehend the attraction that mountains have to certain people.
Agreed...apparently the compassionate conservative thread is located elsewhere.
There's nothing wrong with your philosophy as stated in the post I'm responding to. But the point is that people are exhilarated by other things besides dangerous recreational activities and should not be considered old, tired, bored or fearful. Just because someone doesn't have the vaguest desire to climb a mountain doesn't mean they're a couch potato.
When someone risks their life by going into an extremely dangerous situation simply for exhilaration and thrills, I have to consider them an idiot and very selfish. I know there is a risk level in many recreational activities, but mountain climbing in these conditions was well beyond the pale.
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