So, in what is apparently a frequently repeated theme, some climbers have gotten themselves in trouble on Mt. Hood and now the gov’t is spending money to search for their sorry asses. I think the gov’t shouldn’t even try to rescue them. Apparently, many mountaineers agree with me, even if they don’t realize it.
Republican John Lim, a former legislator who’s running for governor, said Sunday he plans to keep pushing for a state law to require mountaineers to carry electronic locator devices when they head for the summit of Mount Hood.
Many rescuers and mountaineers oppose such a requirement, saying it would create a false sense of security and prompt some climbers to take risks they otherwise would avoid.
Well what do you think gov’t led mountain rescues do? They create a false sense of security and prompt some climbers to take risks they otherwise would avoid. If their argument is against gov’t actions that encourage more risk, then surely these mountaineers are in favor of calling of the rescue. Right. Right?
