Brooklyn Man Still Missing on Mount Hood

Rescue costs are a necessity for outdoor tourist dollars, as the state gains a lot more than it pays. If you are a climber, boarder, etc., would you rather vacation in a state where you have to foot the rescue bill or in a state that takes care of a majority of the cost?

For all who were wondering how much this rescue costs:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16281005/from/RS.2/

"Really, you sound quite superior sitting in your comfortable living rooms and quiet offices. Hopefully, you will never have to contend with nature's impulses like these (well-prepared) individuals."

Oh, for Christ's sake. Enough. I don't forbid my husband from doing anything. I'm not a jailer or a parent. That said, I wouldn't sit idly by and say "Oh, honey, I know this is something you *need* to do" if my husband was going to engage in activity that would endanger our family's financial and emotional safety. It would be irresponsible of me to do so. How is that selfish and somebody's choosing to put themself in danger not selfish?

Fortunately for me, my husband and I both have desk jobs, a comfortable living room, and feel damn lucky not to have to face bodily danger every day (you know, like people in Sudan or Iraq). Neither of us would willingly put ourselves at great risk. I don't understand the urge to endanger oneself when there are so many people who legitimately *are* in danger in this world.

some of you are particularly selfish about what you "will" or "will not" allow your husband to do. Who are you to dictate that? If you married a person, you married them for who they are, not what you "allow" them to do. These gents, as others have pointed out, had a passion that may take them into harm's way. Their spouses accepted that because (presumably) it's something they loved about them. They were prepared as best as they could be, but they got caught by the incidents that nature can impose on anyone, at anytime (note here: remember the Lee family from a couple weeks ago that got caught in part of the same storm?).

Really, you sound quite superior sitting in your comfortable living rooms and quiet offices. Hopefully, you will never have to contend with nature's impulses like these (well-prepared) individuals.

I cant even put into words how far off you are from the reasons a person would climb a mountain. marry a stockbroker, stay in the house, home school your kids.....try as you might you will never be safe. are you a thrill seeker because you live in NYC instead of eastdejesus Nebraska? are you an irresponsible parent for allowing your children to live here? I sincerely hope you allow your child to live life more than you would allow these strangers or your husband or perhaps he/she will never take a risk and thus never reach his potential

i totally agree with Samantha T too. guys like this need to learn that once they have kids, or are married, it's no longer all about them. if you are single and unattached - climb to your heart's desire - if not - hang up the gear.

This thread really has me thinking now... if a woman marries a firefighter, he's going to remain one, chances are, even if she has kids. She knew what she got herself into. She married a risk taker.

Kelly proposed to his wife on a mountain after a climb. She married a climber. She knew that from the moment they met. (I heard her press conference last week.) Sure, he might not make his living that way, but he probably would if he could.

So, what's the difference? Are we more forgiving towards those who set out to save others but not those who set out to do the same thing for fun?

I have to admit, however, I am with Samantha T on that one. I'm not going to tell other people what they should and should not do, but my husband is not allowed to undertake certain risky behaviors. I just don't want to raise a child by myself. :/

Depends on the ocean, depends on the mountain. Climbing Everest is like swimming in a hurricane. Climbing Mt. Hood is like swimming at Jones Beach - inherently risky, but not in a way anyone seems too worried about.

That said, Samantha, you're right. Thrill seekers put themselves in danger's path on purpose, which they shouldn't do if they have other responsibilities.

"there is risk in everything, you do your best to manage the risk, but tragedy will still occur."

But it's disingenuous to claim that all risks present themselves equally. I feel sorry for these men and for their families - it's not a death I'd wish on anybody. That said, I'd be absolutely furious if my husband engaged in any deliberately risky behavior: bungee jumping, serious whitewater rafting, extreme climbing, anything like that. I'm having a baby and it would be extremely selfish of him to put his need to thrill-seek before his obligations as a husband and father. It's not even just that he'd die - were he seriously or even slightly injured and unable to work, guess who would bear the burden of his injury both financially and time-wise? Yours truly.

People engage in these activities *because* of the risk, not in spite of the risk. Thrill-seekers don't "manage" risk, they seek it out, plain and simple. It's still tragic when a death occurs, of course, but it's imprecise to equate the risks accompanying swimming in the ocean with climbing Everest.

I was going to say the same exact thing as the last comment. What about swimming, especially in the ocean? You could drown! It's full of sharks!

Would you call someone crazy and irresponsible for taking a dip at the beach?

The fact is that mountain climbing remains safer than swimming or skiing, which people consider fun, wholesome family activities. Those of you who lack the balls to climb don't have to volunteer for the search party anyway, so don't worry about it. I hope this gets resolved soon.

uggh morons...I am sure you would say the same thing of a day at the beach when an unexpected tide drags your brother out to his death, or a shark attack kills your husband or your niece is knocked unconscious by an errant Frisbee and has to be rescued. Why the hell should you pay all your hard earned money for lifeguards...oh and the parents who allow their children to be there...horrifying. there is risk in everything, you do your best to manage the risk, but tragedy will still occur. as for your tax dollars going to rescue give me a break. we all pay tax for things we don't care about. I pay plenty for NYC schools when I don't and will not have children, I paid tax for W to run his last presidential campaign.....etc etc. think before you speak. If you slip in the shower trying to wash off all the scary germs in the world and the fire dept has to visit I wont begrudge you...Ill still think you are an ass though

I respectfully agree with the last comment. People who enjoy the outdoors and climbing, mountaineering etc., are people who enjoy the nature of outdoors as opposed to city life. It is a tragedy for the young men themselves and their families. My heart goes out to all of them. My daughter and her husband are climbers also. They take care but storms occur.

Thank you

So Im just guessing, but you must be a climber #5, way to stick up for your own. Although I couldnt disagree with you more.

Regardless of beginner, easy, medium, or difficult, climbing up a MOUNTAIN is still dangerous and selfish (when taking into account the fact that you have a wife and kids at home).

These men should not be lauded as heroes because a real hero would have just went golfing and been a parent to his child.

to #'s 1 & 3:

many people choose to climb mt hood because it's viewed as an "easy" climb -- often-times winters bring mild conditions to the mountain and it's a pleasant two-day climb. climbers don't usually climb mt. hood for the "thrill" of it, even in winter -- they climb it because it's fun and pretty. but the weather up there, just as any other mountain, can turn dangerous unexpectedly, so it's certainly advisable for climbers to exercise extreme caution. but don't harp on them for big-headed thrill-seeking; mt. hood's one of the only mountains that you can safely climb this time of year without having to go all-out, everest-style.

it is unfortunate, and it is a tragedy. I hope the other two are found safe and alive today.

I agree with Questions & Answers post 1000%. I am especially mad at those who have children and keep doing this irresponsible "sport".

Not to mention how many tax dollars have been wasted looking for these fools. They should be made to sign a waiver that says if their ass falls off a cliff no tax money will be spent looking for them and that it's their own damn fault.

Grrr.

I am sorry for their families and especially sorry for the children who had fathers that were so selfish and irresponsible to even consider something as stupid as this. If I was married to one of those guys, I would be absoulutely furious. There are so many other horrible things that can naturally happen to you that to put yourself in harms way like this is just damn foolish.

I agree with Questions & Answers post 1000%. I am especially mad at those who have children and keep doing this irresponsible "sport".

Not to mention how many tax dollars have been wasted looking for these fools. They should be made to sign a waiver that says if their ass falls off a cliff no tax money will be spent looking for them and that it's their own damn fault.

Grrr.

I am sorry for their families and especially sorry for the children who had fathers that were so selfish and irresponsible to even consider something as stupid as this. If I was married to one of those guys, I would be absoulutely furious. There are so many other horrible things that can naturally happen to you that to put yourself in harms way like this is just damn foolish.

Well, I don't think anyone claims them as heroes, but in this holiday season, thier families just want them back.

The people looking for them are indeed heroes for volunteering for such risky work.

I will never understand why people choose to climb mountains in the winter. This "hobby" or "sport" is a very selfish one. I get that climbers are looking for the thrill, for the high, for the fullfilling of something greater than themselves by engaging in such risky activity but do they have to do it during the worst part of the year? Everytime a story goes out about climbers getting lost, you inevitably have to watch your TV screen fill with grieving family & friends left behind who have to cope with the "not knowing", the "what if's"...

I don't feel sorry for any of these climbers.

It's unfortunate but not a tragedy. They knew the risks, yet they took them anyway. Now a resuce team has to be mobilized to try to save their asses, all the while the rescuers are putting their own lives in danger.

This is just plain selfish and and these climbers should not be heralded as some kinds of heroes.