Excerpted from the AAC Newsletter. It is very late! Comment NOW!!!!
Thanks,
jim
The American Alpine Club E-News
March 2001
Dear Members,
Several policy issues affecting climbing are up for consideration over the
next month, ranging from a rescue cost recovery study and backcountry
management scoping document at Denali National Park and Preserve to a
draft backcountry management plan at Rocky Mountain National Park. The
AAC is actively involved in all three of these issues and has been working
collaboratively with Park managers to ensure that the interests of
climbers are taken into consideration as management plans are developed.
However, comments from individual members throughout the country will be
influential in reaching final decisions. Please note the Denali Rescue
Cost Recovery Study
comment period ends this Friday, March 9.
Below you will find synopsis of each policy issue and the position of the
AAC. Please forward this issue of the E-News to any climbers who may be
interested in commenting. Non-members may subscribe to the E-News on our
website http://www.americanalpineclub.org.
Denali Rescue Cost Recovery Study
As a result of legislation passed by Congress at the urging of Alaska Sen.
Frank Murkowski, Denali National Park and Preserve is investigating three
primary issues: 1) whether it is feasible to charge mountaineers for
rescues on Mt. McKinley, 2) whether it is feasible to require climbers to
show proof of medical insurance before being issued a climbing permit, and
3) whether any adjustments need to be made to the fee structure for
mountaineering permits. The Park has expanded on issue #2 by exploring
whether it would be feasible to encourage or to require McKinley climbers
to have rescue insurance before being issued a climbing permit.
AAC Executive Director Charley Shimanski, a long-time mountain rescue
official, is serving as one of four individuals on the core group
evaluating the Park's response to these issues, so the AAC's voice is well
represented on this study. The AAC is still finalizing comments on these
issues, but our primary points are:
· The AAC historically has opposed charging for rescues, because it delays
the initial call for help, making rescues more complex and increasing the
risk to subjects and rescuers. Charging for rescues also is bad public
policy for land managers, because it will increase legal liability and
establish a "duty to rescue" anyone who asks. The concept also runs
counter to the National Search and Rescue Plan of which the Department of
Interior is a signatory, which specifically prohibits agencies from
seeking repayment of rescue costs. The AAC long has opposed singling out
climbers to pay an advance rescue fee when other park visitors are not
asked to bear financial responsibility for their rescues.
· The AAC has seen no information showing climbers to be less insured than
other park visitors, so forcing climbers alone to demonstrate proof of
medical insurance would be discriminatory. There are many instances in
which climbers have gone out of their way to pay for hospital care.
Further, since the costs of any indigent medical care - whether from
climbers or the general public - are not borne by the National Park
Service, we question the relevance of this issue to the NPS.
· While the AAC provides rescue insurance to all members for peaks up to
6000 meters and makes available supplemental insurance for higher peaks,
there are logistical issues that must be considered if rescue insurance is
mandated. We have expressed our willingness to work with the Park in
exploring these issues.
· The AAC believes it is inappropriate for climbers to pay rescue fees for
the same reason we oppose charging for rescues. Further, we hope to
review all aspects of the mountaineering program to determine whether the
current $150 per person fee is fully justified and to see whether some
services currently being provided can be reduced or eliminated to lessen
program costs.
Climbers have until March 9 to comment on the study. Concerns should be
sent by email to: mailto:mike_gauthier@nps.gov, or by regular mail to:
Denali National Park and Preserve
Attn: Mike Gauthier
PO Box 588
Talkeetna AK 99676
(For a more complete assessment of the rescue cost recovery issue on Mt.
McKinley, please visit the AAC's website at http://www.americanalpineclub.org/rescue.htm.)