A controversial topic always surrounds the Payment Question:
when someone is out "there" and gets into trouble, who should pay for the search and rescue of those people?
Check out this link for an ongoing commentary, leave your view, follow the feeds:
http://outside-blog.away.com/blog/2009/01/search-rescue-who-foots-the-bill.html
There are other links there too.
When we parked a car at Table Rock State Park to hike the Foothills Trail, the front desk required the parking permit (free) to state our return date. We posted one day past our intended return date to prevent a Search and Rescue being performed without merit. What if we wanted to take it a little slower? Its the first time I've ever felt threatened by a search and rescue.
Some worry that imposing the cost upon the receivers of a Search and Rescue would cause those in danger not to call for help in time. How many actually have a cell phone with them, and does it even get a signal? You can call home from Mt.Everest, but not from these hills in North East Georgia. If you think you'll get a signal anywhere on the Pacific Crest Trail, you'll be surprised.
Some interesting stats I found:
Oregon S&R in 2005
Activity/Percent of Missions
1)Motor Vehicles/20.5%
2)Hiking/13.8%
3)Wandering (without specific destination)/10.1%
4)Hunting/9.4%
5)Boating/6.4%
6)Suicide/5.5%
7)Swimming/4.2%
8)Fixed-wing Aircraft/3.7%
9)Combing/3.4%
10)Mushroom Picking/3.0%
Source: Office of Emergency Management
I ask myself, If I was in danger of dying, or loosing a couple limbs, would I be willing to pay $10,00 for my own life? Hell ya.
If I'm not willing to pay it, why would I expect anyone else to be willing to foot the bill?
There are many extenuating circumstances in scenarios like this. I don't have the answers.
Comments welcome.
Stay safe.
when someone is out "there" and gets into trouble, who should pay for the search and rescue of those people?
Check out this link for an ongoing commentary, leave your view, follow the feeds:
http://outside-blog.away.com/blog/2009/01/search-rescue-who-foots-the-bill.html
There are other links there too.
When we parked a car at Table Rock State Park to hike the Foothills Trail, the front desk required the parking permit (free) to state our return date. We posted one day past our intended return date to prevent a Search and Rescue being performed without merit. What if we wanted to take it a little slower? Its the first time I've ever felt threatened by a search and rescue.
Some worry that imposing the cost upon the receivers of a Search and Rescue would cause those in danger not to call for help in time. How many actually have a cell phone with them, and does it even get a signal? You can call home from Mt.Everest, but not from these hills in North East Georgia. If you think you'll get a signal anywhere on the Pacific Crest Trail, you'll be surprised.
Some interesting stats I found:
Oregon S&R in 2005
Activity/Percent of Missions
1)Motor Vehicles/20.5%
2)Hiking/13.8%
3)Wandering (without specific destination)/10.1%
4)Hunting/9.4%
5)Boating/6.4%
6)Suicide/5.5%
7)Swimming/4.2%
8)Fixed-wing Aircraft/3.7%
9)Combing/3.4%
10)Mushroom Picking/3.0%
Source: Office of Emergency Management
I ask myself, If I was in danger of dying, or loosing a couple limbs, would I be willing to pay $10,00 for my own life? Hell ya.
If I'm not willing to pay it, why would I expect anyone else to be willing to foot the bill?
There are many extenuating circumstances in scenarios like this. I don't have the answers.
Comments welcome.
Stay safe.
