Re: [at-l] Billing for rescuing idiots. . . .

[bullard@northnet.org]

At 06:27 PM 12/29/99 -0600, our guest Jack Tarlin <baltjack@hotmail.com>
wrote:
Enough is enough.  The first time some moron gets billed 5 Grand for a
rescue this will make regional, !
> and perhaps national news.  This is a good thing---it may encourage
similar idiots to think twice before setting out to the mountains ill
prepared, ill equipped, and full of the false security that no matter how
badly they manage to screw up, a regiment of volunteers will happily put
their lives at risk to bail them out, haul their asses down the mountain,
wipe their noses, and best of all, do it for free.  Nope. Not any more. New
Hampshire is finally making it clear that ultimately, people have to take
responsibility for their actions.  And most of us that live here, and spend
time in the mountains here, feel that this is LONG overdue.
>
Hey guys, this is not a *new* idea. A few years back in the Adirondacks a
young boy out with a group feigned a broken ankle to get an air lift of the
mountain he climbed with a group. When X-rays showed no injury he fessed up
that he was tired and didn't want to walk back. His antic cost his family
several thousand dollars. 

Just this year a couple used their cell phone to request a rescue. They
were caught in a heavy fog near a summit and couldn't find their way. It
was cold and raining. The ranger had the presence of mind they evidently
lacked and asked what they had with them. A tent, sleeping bags, food and a
stove no less. He advised them to find a flat spot, pitch the tent, cook
some food and walk out the next day. Duh! In the immortal words of Dave
Barry "I'm not making this up", it is in the annual "incident report" of
the ADK. Of course they weren't billed for the advice but they didn't get a
'real rescue' either.

Saunterer

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