Fw: [pct-l] Rescue Stats

[randy_forsland@hotmail.com (Randy Forsland)]

I am forwarding this to the list per the author's request...All views and
opinions are that of the author and in no way reflect on my distorted
views...your mileage may vary....
----- Original Message -----
From: <saskia.home@wanadoo.nl>
To: "Randy Forsland" <randy_forsland@hotmail.com>
Sent: Monday, December 02, 2002 1:53 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Rescue Stats


> Hi,
>
> Have you read the article in Backpacker Magazine a while ago about people
who
> lived through terrible adventures? It told me that while there are plenty
> of 'fools' who will some day need a rescue, there are also many
well-prepared
> hikers who may need it.
>
> Even if I don't go anywhere without my 10 essentials, plan my trips, don't
go
> further (but stop and if necessary go back) when lost, I still may twist
an
> ankle or worse. I have done so, and we have camped out besides the trail
for
> over a day to allow my ankle to heal. I was lucky and was able to hobble
out
> with my hiking sticks and a bandage, it could have been worse, through no
fault
> of my own.
>
> Have you never wandered from the beaten path and stubbornly hiked on to
> discover yourself lost? Have you never ventured on a steep snow field
without
> an ice axe because doing otherwise would mean going back 20 miles? Did you
ever
> suffer of altitude sickness, even when you were (you thought) acclimatised
and
> in good condition? Have you ever jumped off the trail because a snake,
bear,
> marmot startled you? Don't be too sure you will never need rescuing.
>
> To me, whether I would need it or not, is not the main argument for
introducing
> fees or not. Would introducing fees mean that people do not ask for help
when
> they need it? Would it mean that genuinely unfortunate hikers would have
to pay
> off their rescue for years? Or worse, if someone is actually disabled for
life,
> would it mean his/her family not only has to take care of him/her but also
pay
> off the rescue fee? How many of the rescues, in the estimation of the
rescue
> teams, would have been avoidable? Is the existence of a rescue team not
part
> and parcel of having a National Park, in the same way that rangers or
other
> caretakers are? How much would be a fee that would cover all the costs?
etc etc
>
> Saskia
>
>
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