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I  have been in blizzards and know what it is to just lay down an go to sleep...

It is sad but they were testing their limits......

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The climbers that recently died on Mt Hood.  Yep.  Sad. While people trying to challenge certain areas of nature (that aren't natural for man) have led to many early deaths (rafting, Sky Diving, mountain climbing, scuba diving) it's still sad when those taking a calculated risk succumb.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

glad to see you're oaky!  i was thinking of you when i heard about jthe blizzards up there.  i check the eldora webcam frequently and it was RALLY coming down earlier today!  be careful

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All work and no play make Homer something something

I was thinking about this topic.    They were all very experienced climbers.   So why would you be so lightly equipped in the middle of winter.   I know they thought they would be up and down fast but come on..... it's the middle of winter and anything can happen.    The weather can turn up there literally in minutes.

They had a serious lapse in judgement.    Unfortunately it cost them the ultimate.    It doesn't make sense.

They did an interview with some rangers or whatever they are called up there.     There is no law or way that they could have been denied the right to climb.    What's his name had a good point.   When you go to the beach if the lifeguards determine it's not safe to swim, nobody swims.   So why aren't there lifeguards at the mountains?   Or some way to signal climbers that conditions for climbing are very unsafe?

about the best they do are avalanche warnings and weather alerts.  i wonder what two guys from Texas were doing in the snow anyway?  we don't get alot of it down here and we sure don't have any mountains like that here!

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All work and no play make Homer something something

I personally think that a permit should be required for anyone wanting to mountain climb in a national park.  The permit should also be expensive enough to discourage all but the most serious climbers.  Those fees could also be used to offset the expenses incurred for rescues.  AND park authorities should be have "authority" to say when and when not to climb.

With all the technology that exists, climbers should be required  to carry devices similar to the "black box" on airlines.  And satellite phones wouldn't hurt either.

Kelly

Excellent ideas Kelly. There are just certain things that are too risky and end up costly and potentially life-threatening not just for those wanting to climb, but others that are forced to get involved in risky activities.  In certain cases although some things might not be termed "risk of suicide", not taking ALL precautions when weather conditions change so fast/drastically, and in NOT being completely prepared and qualified, such as climbers having passed certain certifications, which include meteorology, topography, and ESPECIALLY geography of all different regions. Risk of death is just too high. Expenses also get quite high.  Perhaps leaving a security deposit of 10K refundable upon return of climb (assuming return isn't by helicopter)

IMO.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

I live 60 miles from Mt Hood and every year at this time we have climbers that get lost or stranded on the mountain, many of them make it back safely. Most of them are experienced and usually over confident and that is what gets them in trouble. If you live in the Pacific Northwest you better respect the weather because it can change from good to bad in a matter of minutes especially at 7,000 to 11,000 ft on a face of a mountain in the dead middle of the winter. We have a slogan here in Oregon..if you don't like the weather here, just wait for about 15 minutes cause it's gonna change.

I feel that before you can climb Mt. Hood you should be required to register with the sheriffs department a week prior to the climb, leave a copy of the planned route and an alternate route, they should be required to own or rent an EPERB Locator, vhf radio device, and should be required to carry the minimum recommended gear for that time of year and weather conditions. Just prior to the climb they should be required to prove they have this gear in their possesion and if they don't have it they can't make the climb.

I know this would add to the cost of the sport and would be a pain in the butt, but safety comes first. Climbing Mt. Hood is a very dangerous task and should be treated as such.

When I operate my boat in the State of Oregon they routinely check boat operators to make sure they have the proper safety equipment on board and if one item is missing from the required list....I get a big fat ticket and must return to the boat ramp or slip and cannot operate my boat legally until I have the missing item. If they catch me operating the boat without it they can confiscate the boat.

My point here is I do not have a choice...If I want to go fishing I must have a properly licensed boat, the required safety equipment, and a fishing license. Do I still go fishing?  You bet.

But if I'm a mountain climber and want to go climbing there are little or no requirments as far as education, safety equipment, permits, fee's etc. I can just start climbing the mountain. I'm sure that there will be some changes coming soon with regards to state laws.

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Scott

Sort've like those that go into Yosemite and try to scale Halfdome wearing Ked's, garden gloves, and Dollarama Caribiners (carrying a loaf of bread to feed the cute bear cubs along the way).  If you stand on the ledge of a highrise in NYC and yell "I'm going to jump", assuming you don't succede you are held for 72 hour psychiatric observation.  However, If you want to have a TV program such as Steve Irwin's (sticking your face within striking range of Tiger and Fierce snakes, while twirling a Mamba around by it's tail) you are called an entertainer. If you want to be like Bobby Kneival, and have an audience while you jump a box of Rattlers on your motorcycle, you sudden emerge from the "Mentally unstable" category, and are called "an entertainer", or "dare-devil".  If you jump off of a 90 foot tiny platform into a pile of cardboard boxes you are called an "illusionist", and given a TV show. If I did that,  I'd be given an Involuntary Psychiatric evaluation, and a summons to court (after I got out've the cast assuming I ever did)..

"Thrill Seeking" activity,  BASE jumping, Climbing certain environments, collecting hot snakes, going on safaris alone living with Hippo's, etc all carry a significant risk. Many of us don't want to die young.  Some however feel compelled to flirt with death, in order to feel alive.  To me ALOT of these things (despite the motive) still fall into a category of Suicidal behaviour, OR stupidity assuming one doesn't know the risks involved.  Either way, Mess with the Bull, and get the horns.  Certain behaviour should NOT be considered "entertainment value".  What are the odds of getting into trouble when a person climbs Mt Hood ?  Depending on these odds, that is one way of calculating whether or not this should be allowable, (or WHO should be allowed to do such climbing),  Certain roads are closed off in certain conditions.  Maybe mountains should be too ?  Dunno.

Put up a big fence  LOL

JMO

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".