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Letter to P-I blames climbers for rescue costs


Norman_Clyde

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That's great stuff, matt. Thanks!

 

Anything you guys can add in this vein (with source cited) that I can paraphrase into my response is greatly appreciated, as it will save me the time to go looking for/finding this info.

 

Anyone know the word limit for a LTE in the P-I? I don't wanna get too carried away and not get it published because it's too long.

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Arch or someone should definately write a letter. Not to refute this moron, but to help educate the rest of the Seattle PI's readership. Then, we should all stock the moron!!

 

Marie,

I plan on writing a response to the P-I tonight after work.

 

psssst... it's "stalk"...

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I always like to get the whole story. Here is a quick tour through what I have come across so far:

(quick note: "Climbers" as all of you know, are people using ropes and harnesses on rock or glaciated terrain--not hikers (who are a higher cost group due to the time spent finding lost people).)

 

History of SAR

http://www.americanalpineclub.org/docs/Rescue_Cost_Recovery_CS_2004.pdf

 

Examples of SAR by state. The most expensive one I saw listed was AK (which runs on 5K a year).

http://www.answers.com/mountain%20rescue%20costs

 

Local example of Rainier '03.

http://www.nps.gov/mora/climb/Climb03.mht

 

Current misperceptions of cost/risk (best article I read)

http://www.americanalpineclub.org/docs/AAC%20Rescue%20Report%20med.pdf

 

I am a member of AccessFund and don't remember seeing rescue costs/climber demographics listed there, but I will look back through older stuff. I am still curious about climber stats. Certainly someone has wondered what our group is comprised of.

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what if these folks were just calling in a rescue from the top of glacier peak because, well it's scary and stuff? should they be charged then?

 

Nobody should even respond, as it's not deemed a rescue yet. I heard one of the (unnamed) oldtimers in Mountain Rescue have this (tounge-in-cheek) response ready for such instances: "Naaah, you can come on down by yourselves. We'll be up to get you when you get hurt."

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I thought they did made climbers pay for being rescued?

 

Not in this state, not in this country. Some countries in Europe (Italy and France come to mind) charge for rescues, but then they have paid staff waiting to come get you.

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I thought they did made climbers pay for being rescued? Anyone have any experience with this? Layton?

 

Some places have you pay a "insurance" type fee in the beginning of the year.

 

This older article talks about Oregon introducing a bill that requires climbers to carry locators or be liable for their resue costs:

http://www.i-world.net/oma/news/rescue/athearn.html

 

It could be different by now though--this was written in '97.

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Shouldn't Ken Schram come on TV and have something stupid to say right about now? He's the ultimate ass. Against everything, for nothing.

 

Ken Schram is the ultimate marketing tool! Nothing works as good as his negativity to build awareness. His ratings are actually through the roof, a great "sales" tool for KOMO's advertising figures.

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This older article talks about Oregon introducing a bill that requires climbers to carry locators or be liable for their resue costs:

http://www.i-world.net/oma/news/rescue/athearn.html

 

It could be different by now though--this was written in '97.

 

Sadly it is not different. That bill was a knee-jerk reaction where the Oregon legislature felt the had to do "something". If you do not carry a cellphone or MLU (on Mt. Hood only), you could conceivably be considered liable for charges. In practice, this is highly unlikely, though it is there in the law.

 

Portland Mountain Rescue and the MRA put out a statement after similar cries for billing climbers arose when a helicopter crashed on Mt. Hood a few years ago.

 

Here was their public statement:

http://www.pmru.org/common/opsstatement.html

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