Can I Get An Opinion?

[kwillia]

Originally Posted by itsbob

In America we're supposed to be allowed to do stupid stuff, even dangerous stuff.. It's called freedom..

Why we feel the need to have to rescue people that are exercising their freedoms is beyond me..

BUT in Oregon it's somewhere in the neighborhood of 90% volunteer mountain rescue, and I THINK they use National Guard assets for helo support.. GREAT training for them, especially seeing the terrain they may be flying in in the future, and have flown in in the past.

I'll never forget our trip to the Grand Canyon. We were on the trail near the canyon edge and had stopped to listen to a park ranger who was telling tales of the canyon. Suddenly there were gasps from some of the listeners and we all looked over to see what they were pointing at. There were three twenty-something guys who had hopped down to a ledge hanging off the edge so they could "get a better view"... ... Well the ranger glanced over then turned back to us and said, "This is America. We can't stop you from doing something stupid. We can only call in for body recovery." Then he proceeded to pick up his story where he had left off.

[Merlin99 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by thurley42

This is the point I wanted to hit on...I'm all for adventure sports, testing yourself, climbing mountains, base jumping...whatever. But I think people should accept the personal risk associated with it....i.e. if you can't be saved by the individuals in your party...well you are gonna die on that mountain....we shouldn't risk innocent peoples lives, taxpayer equipment, and resources on saving people who got in over their head..

A lot of these rescuers are people who do the same sports in their off time, they have a vested interest in keeping the status quo.

[aps45819]

Originally Posted by itsbob

He fell (snow gaveway) while posing for a picture..

NOBODY pose for any pictures, it's TOO dangerous!!

That actually kills a lot of people in Hawaii.

"Back up honey so I can get the crashing wave in the picture behind you"

[GWguy]

Originally Posted by aps45819

That actually kills a lot of people in Hawaii.

"Back up honey so I can get the crashing wave in the picture behind you"

Around here it's "Hold my beer and watch this!"

Same result.

[Penn]

Another side of this sport, it seems to me, is the magnitude, the dimensions, the elevation, things you need to consider when attempting a climb up the face of a mountain like this one.

I have climbed mountainous hills in and around Phoenix, AZ, years ago(much younger), maybe 1,000 ft vertical. Ie., Camelback Mountains, just east of the city. But what the heck is Mount St. Helens elevation? You pretty much knew what the environment was going to be, once you reached the top, in the Arizona mountains.

I don't think you can predict what you may, or may not encounter, on the way up that slope. Violent winds, snowstorms; are these people really prepared for those types of adverse conditions?

Somehow, I think not. Evidence of past rescues say otherwise. JMHO

[kwillia]

Originally Posted by Penn

Another side of this sport, it seems to me, is the magnitude, the dimensions, the elevation, things you need to consider when attempting a climb up the face of a mountain like this one.

I have climbed mountainous hills in and around Phoenix, AZ, years ago(much younger), maybe 1,000 ft vertical. Ie., Camelback Mountains, just east of the city. But what the heck is Mount St. Helens elevation? You pretty much knew what the environment was going to be, once you reached the top, in the Arizona mountains.

I don't think you can predict what you may, or may not encounter, on the way up that slope. Violent winds, snowstorms; are these people really prepared for those types of adverse conditions?

Somehow, I think not. Evidence of past rescues say otherwise. JMHO

Good grief, Penn. One can't predict whether or not they will make it home in one piece on their drive from work either. I feel you are making a snow-capped mountain out of a mole hill.

[Penn]

Originally Posted by kwillia

Good grief, Penn. One can't predict whether or not they will make it home in one piece on their drive from work either. I feel you are making a snow-capped mountain out of a mole hill.

No ma'am, that is not true. There have been incidences, where weather reports highly suggested bad weather might occur, at higher elevations on that mountain. And still, they went up, and tried to climb to the top.

I have read about it, and seen it online - probably in the last 8 or 10 months. Do you not recall any of those stories? They ARE true!

[Nickel]

Originally Posted by Penn

I don't think you can predict what you may, or may not encounter, on the way up that slope.

Sure you can. Maybe not with absolute certainty, because weather changes day to day, but it's not unreasonable to think that someone can be prepared for something like that. It's not like somebody wakes up one morning and decides to climb a mountain. They usually have experience and are involved in a community with access to feedback about similar climbs. It's unfortunate when someone dies in the process, but they know the risk when they make the attempt. And don't forget that plenty of people make it back down the mountain in one piece.

[Penn]

Originally Posted by Nickel

Sure you can. Maybe not with absolute certainty, because weather changes day to day, but it's not unreasonable to think that someone can be prepared for something like that. It's not like somebody wakes up one morning and decides to climb a mountain. They usually have experience and are involved in a community with access to feedback about similar climbs. It's unfortunate when someone dies in the process, but they know the risk when they make the attempt. And don't forget that plenty of people make it back down the mountain in one piece.

I must agree with you, to a point: One would hope that they are experienced enough, where they can "handle" minor adversities. From the reports I have read about, it makes you wonder if some of those who attempt the sort of escalating experience of that nature - ARE up to the task.

And you are correct about the ones who do make it back to the basecamp, safely. Those are the ones you don't normally hear about.

Thank you for your thoughts; they are/were what I was hoping to hear.