HB 2509 - Joint letter from all Oregon SAR Groups

[elaine]

Rocky Henderson from PMR sent this to me. It's a great letter, and I expect that the main Access Fund office in Colorado to endorse it. Rocky expects that the Oregon legislature will have it on their desks today or tomorrow.

 

Thanks

 

Kellie Rice

Access Fund RC- Oregon

 

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March 23, 2007

 

All of the mountain rescue organizations in the State of Oregon oppose HB2509.

These organizations include:

 

Portland Mountain Rescue

Eugene Mountain Rescue

Corvallis Mountain Rescue

Deschutes County SAR

Hood River Crag Rats

 

Additionally, the Mountain Rescue Association, which represents over 90 mountain rescue teams through out North America, opposes HB 2509.

 

The Mt Hood Search and Rescue Council, which represents all the agencies and resource groups on Mt Hood, opposes HB 2509.

 

Oregon Mountain Rescue Council, the organization recognized by the Oregon State Sheriffs Association as the accreditation body for mountain rescue teams in Oregon, opposes HB2509.

 

The Mazamas, a non-profit mountaineering education organization representing over 3000 climbers, opposes HB2509.

 

We believe a law requiring climbers to carry electronic devices will have unintended consequences that will increase the risk to both climbers and rescuers. Additionally, when the state mandates specific equipment it gives the climber a false sense of security. The climber will be more likely to take greater risks because they believe that since the state has required a “beacon” they are entitled to a rescue.

 

For example, in February, the eight climbers lost on Mt. Hood had beacons, GPS and a compass. When rescuers got to them they walked out on their own. The media portrayed this as great example of the value of the MLU. Our analysis leads us to conclude that they were relying on the rescuers to save them when the incident could have been completely avoided had the climbers known how to properly use their compass and GPS. Self reliance in the mountains is essential for survival, HB2509 will not cause climbers to be more self-reliant. In fact we believe that this law will lead to more reliance on the rescuers.

 

House Bill 2509 was conceived by a representative as an emotional response to the families of the lost climbers on Mt. Hood. While these people have good intentions, they do not understand issues involving climbers and rescuers on Mt. Hood.

 

The mountain rescue community is in the best position to understand these issues and help craft effective solutions. We are already actively working on solutions in conjunction with the Governor’s Search and Rescue Task Force and we welcome all opportunities to keep Oregon a wonderful and safe place to enjoy our mountains.

 

A vote in favor of this bill will be against the advice of the entire mountain rescue community in this state and in the nation

 

We ask you to vote NO on House bill 2509

 

[ryland_moore]

Awesome.

[fheimerd]

lots of respect to all the folks involved in producing this letter.

 

I especially like the part were the say the media is bullshit

[Gary_Yngve]

very cool letter

[sobo]

...The mountain rescue community is in the best position to understand these issues and help craft effective solutions...

ABSOFUGGINLUTELY!!!1

 

...A vote in favor of this bill will be against the advice of the entire mountain rescue community in this state and in the nation.

ABSOFUGGINLUTELY!!!1 But since when has common sense, logic, and reason been an influencing factor to politicians?

 

Nice job, Rocky! Mad props to you and all the OR Mountain Rescue groups for getting on this shitheap and trying to get it killed!