Mountain Climbers...is it TIME?

[Terry Wallace]

Is it about time to limit when people can go climbing the major peaks?
Now there are people stranded on Mt. Hood? WHAT were they thinking?
Its WINTER.....

Who pays for these rescue excursions? Us...the taxpayers?
I think its about time climbers had to foot their own rescue bills...

I feel for the poor dog that is with them...........

JMO

[Cindy]

Yeah, I kinda wonder that myself every time they are stuck up there and other's have to risk their lives to save them. But, I am not a climber so I don't really know anything about WHY they are up there WHEN they are up there. Doesn't make sense to me. But I am sure it does not make sense to many why people spend so much time and money riding horses.

[Jasfino]

Just saw on tv where that dog help to save their lives! Now he is a hero... :D

[appyday]

Yep taxpayers pay for the stupidity..they should put down $100k for rescue and if they come back they get it..if they have to go look for them they dont get it back..pay for your sport.

[CarolU]

I dont' know about Oregon, but they frequently charge people expenses here. Not the volunteer's time, but helicopter rides aren't free.

That's a good story!

Four people here weren't so lucky...2 skiers and 2 snowmobilers died in avalanches (and 2 more in Montana) last weekend.

[SandyMM]

Facts are always interesting...
MRA's Position Statement:

The Mountain Rescue Association (MRA) with 80 teams from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom -- most of which are comprised of expert volunteer members -- work through or for a local government search and rescue authority. In an effort to give back to the community, defray public agencies' costs and keep taxes down, the MRA teams have been performing the bulk of all search and rescue operations for the past 45 years and those were done without charge to the victim.

The MRA firmly believes that training and education are the keystones in the solution to this issue. We believe that the individual must accept responsibility for his or her actions and that training in proper outdoors skills and for self-rescue might be the quickest and most effective method of resolving most rescue situations.

However, no one should ever be made to feel they must delay in notifying the proper authorities of a search or rescue incident out of fear of possible charges. We ask all outdoors groups and organizations to join us in sending this mountain safety education message.

We recognize that the National Park Service and other governmental agencies have a need to address defraying their costs and we would welcome any opportunity to be involved in discussion of solutions or alternatives to the charge for rescue issue. The expert volunteer teams of MRA are proud to be able to Provide search and rescue at NO cost and have NO plans to charge in the future.

The Mountain Rescue Association is "a volunteer organization dedicated to saving lives through rescue and mountain safety education."

(Statement from the) 1999 National Search and Rescue Plan
The Participants agree that SAR services that they provide to persons in danger or distress will be without subsequent cost-recovery from the person(s) assisted.
- 1999 NSAR
(and subsequent information)
In 1999 the United States Coast Guard issued the United States National Search and Rescue Plan (NSAR). The NSAR Plan, which was amended in 2000, establishes the national protocol for coordinating civil search and rescue (SAR) services to meet domestic needs and international commitments.

The Plan affirms that the United States has met SAR responsibilities agreed to by international treaty including the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, and other appropriate international instruments to which the U.S. is a Party.

Civil search and rescue operations on whitewater and flatwater are explicitly covered under the maritime and land operations directives. Maritime operations are defined as rescue from a water environment; and land operations are defined as rescue operations associated with environments such as wilderness areas, swift water, caves, and mountains.

The signing federal agencies include the Interior and Coast Guard, as well as the Departments of Defense, Transportation, and Commerce, and Federal Communications Commission and National Air and Space Association. Each agency assumes varying degrees of responsibility for preventative measures to protect the visiting public. Ultimately though, NSAR promises the effective use of all available facilities in all types of SAR missions, and affirms that the rescued person(s) shall not be responsible for payment associated with their rescue. This component applies equally on land and water to all federal signatories including the Department of the Interior (DOI) and adjacent jurisdictions, including the National Parks and Forest Services.

[CarolU]

Yeah, it's all free...right until you get in the helicopter. $3800 is what my friend's son was charged to get taken to the ER in the helicopter when he broke his leg skiing.

But no, he didn't get charged anything by the ski patrol that took him off the mountain.