Kstoltz

Hello Everyone, I've become frustrated with this whole process and the message regarding the effectiveness of PLBs in general. I'm not sure why climbers and the SAR community are so anti-PLB but it's clear that even absent the legislation arguments the message being sent is not a positive one. So, we've decided to back out of the on-site rental program pilot for Mt. Hood. Below I've pasted the e-mail I sent to Monty who has been great to work with. Kevin Stoltz Hi Monty, I'm going to "unplug" from all of this. Everything has become so twisted and the facts misrepresented to the point where we're really not interested in fighting this battle. The only reason we attempted to get involved in the first place is to offer our resources to help prevent future deaths on Mt. Hood. The biggest problem as I see it is 3 years ago in 2007 when legislation was proposed in Oregon it was strongly opposed by climbers and the SAR community. I get that and I agree. If there has been an increase in education and public awareness in the past 3 years, it hasn't been very noticeable. The loss of the 3 climbers in December 2009 is probably the worst thing that could have happened to underscore the point that nothing has changed to prevent deaths in the future. Based on our discussions, I had thought that what PMR was reconsidering were the statements which could be interpreted as anti-PLB such as the "unnecessary risk" arguments. Rereading some of my posts, I can see how it might appear I was referencing the legislation issue. That wasn't my intent and I apologize for that. However, after reading the recent news articles and seeing the comments by PMR representatives Steve Rollins and Ian Morris, it seems as if PLBs are being lumped in with everything else and are being portrayed as a detriment to SAR and saving lives. I consider those types of statements to be highly irresponsible. Despite the PMR comments and the message they seem to send, the fact remains that winter is our off-season and we do literally have PLBs sitting on the shelf doing nothing. I had thought PMR, the SAR community, climbers and all those who actually opposed legislation would jump on board and take advantage of our $5/week PLB rental offer. To me, It seems like $5/week on-site PLB rentals available and promoted locally would be strong ammunition against future legislation. While we are still committed to making our PLBs available on-line for $5/wk for activities on Mt. Hood and in the Cascades through 4/1/10, it really doesn't make sense for us to spend time putting together an on-site program for Mt. Hood. Contrary to popular belief, there's not a very strong business case for doing this, especially if those who stand to benefit are fighting it and misrepresenting the effectiveness of PLBs. As far as the legislation in Washington State goes, I want to reiterate that I didn't author or propose this legislation. The topic did come up when I met with Rep. Liias and I'm grateful he proposed something if for no other reason to get people talking about this issue. In reality, we're not even to the point Oregon was 3 years ago and I fully expect HB 2619 to die an ugly death. Saving lives and minimizing risk to SAR personnel is the objective but we clearly have have a long way to go before that's going to happen. I enjoyed working with you albeit briefly and wish you the best. Kevin

Hello Everyone: After reading all the comments on this forum, I thought maybe a couple of you might be interested in first hand information instead of the speculation and insults that seem to have run rampant. I’ve copied a response I made yesterday to the topic on Rep. Liias’ facebook thread below which hopefully will provide more information. The only part I’ve had in this legislation is a one time conversation with Rep. Liias where the recent 3 climber deaths on Mt. Hood came up. I told him about legislation proposed in Oregon in 2007 after the 3 deaths in 2006. I also told him about the opposition in Oregon (some valid and some not) which killed the Oregon legislation. After that conversation, I had no part in the legislation that was ultimately proposed. I wasn’t supportive of the Oregon legislation proposed in 2007 for some of the same reasons most of you are opposed to HB 2619. However, here we are 3 years later and we’ve had a repeat of 3 more deaths on Mt. Hood of experienced climbers who chose not to carry a PLB (or even the Mt. Hood specific MLU) and that decision very likely cost them their lives. There is a lot of very bad information floating around regarding PLBs as well as all of the 406MHz technology some of which is referenced on this forum as well as the links supplied. I don’t claim the have the expertise of all of you regarding most aspects of climbing but I do have expertise regarding PLBs. The reason I now support HB 2619 is because we need to get accurate information out regarding PLBs and where they fit and don’t fit. Past attempts at education haven’t worked. I fully expect HB 2619 to die an ugly death just like it did 3 years ago in Oregon. But the important thing is we’ll have an opportunity to get some factual information out there. Oregon is in a much different situation. Because the legislation failed 3 years ago, and now they have a repeat of the same situation, there will be a lot of pressure to pass some sort of legislation on Mt. Hood. It’s in everybody’s best interest to figure out how to get accurate information regarding PLBs out to those climbers who are going to climb Mt. Hood in the winter because if someone doesn’t come up with a solution, there will likely be a solution imposed that nobody is happy with. PMR is reconsidering their previous position based on the recent deaths and we’re (PLB Rentals) working with them to make PLBs available in place of the MLUs at a nominal charge. If we can get the word out about PLBs, legislation in Oregon might be avoidable but at this point I wouldn’t bet on it. Arriving in Portland as I write this so gotta go….. Kevin Stoltz PLB Rentals, LLC (425)344-1071 *************************** Responding to a few of the recent comments, I served with Rep. Liias as a Mukilteo City Council member and am also the president of PLB Rentals, LLC (founded in 2003 when PLBs became legal for use by individuals in the US with the help and encouragement of the SARSAT-Search And Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking- group at NOAA). Our emphasis was making it easy and inexpensive to get PLBs in the hands of those who might need them. When the 3 climbers died on Mt. Hood in 2006, similar legislation to the above was proposed in Oregon which was strongly opposed by some "experts" in the SAR community and the legislation died. After the 3 climber deaths in December (2009) on Mt. Hood under similar circumstances we (PLB Rentals, LLC) decided to make our PLBs available at a nominal cost ($5 see http://www.plbrentals.com/articles/PR100105.asp). Winter is our slow season and we literally have PLBs sitting on the shelf doing nothing. Our press release was issued before I knew Rep. Liias introduced HB 2619 but I'm extremely supportive even if it's for no other reason to get this long overdue discussion some visibility in Washington State. I'm working with PMR (Portland Mountain Rescue - one of the "perceived" strongest opponents of requiring PLBs) to make them available on Mt. Hood during the winter months at no charge. Tomorrow I'll be visiting the shops that rent MLU's (Mountain Locator Units - exclusive to Mt. Hood and inferior to PLBs) as well as Timberline to see how we can make PLBs available on-site to climbers and anyone else on Mt. Hood who might need them. The sad reality remains, however, that without legislation, the education won't be effective. The recent deaths on Mt. Hood should be (and are) a wake-up call. Most SAR organizations are now aware that the efforts in the past 3 years haven't been as effective enough. Also, PLBs, ELTs, and EPIRBS are much different than other devices like MLUs, SPOT, etc. The three SAR responses to the group for salty tasting water was SPOT not PLB. Even so, false activation is a violation of federal law and can (and has) resulted in prosecution. 406MHz beacon (PLBs, ELTs, EPIRBs) resues are documented at NASA's Goddard site -http://searchandrescue.gsfc.nasa.gov/sarsatreports.html.