Mountain climbing is one of the most rigorous and dangerous leisure pastimes anyone can tackle.  Mt. Everest has become famous for more than just the fact that it is the tallest peak on Earth.  The excavations to the summit have become legendary.  The brutal terrain, along with the ever changing and unpredictable weather, have made the mountain a graveyard for many who have attempted to tackle its summit.  Only the most experienced and seasoned climbers attempt to make that treck.

 It seems that in recent times, mountain climbing has made the headlines for rescuing stranded climbers, than it has for legendary escapades.  Mt. Hood Oregan has become famous over the past five years for the rescue efforts of those who attempt to climb the mountain in horrible conditions.  I recall reading and watching the news on a few occasions, just this year, about rescue efforts being made to search for lost or stranded climbers.  Of course, we all hope and pray that there will be happy news during these efforts.  However, let’s take a look at another side to these stories, one that entails the expenses and danger that come to those who are putting forth those rescue efforts. 

Each time a climber gets lost or is stranded, a search not only consists of manpower, but it consists of pulling resources from government agencies and sometimes even our military.  While are hope and our wish as that there will be a happy ending to the searches, it should be noted that there is a substantial danger to those who are leading the search efforts also.  This is no more evident than a search effort for stranded climbers in 2002, when a Blackhawk Helicopter was being used in the rescue efforts of some climbers who had fallen into a crevice.  The Blackhawk was flying to its altitude limits during this search.  Sometimes, at these altitudes, a downdraft occurs which can send a helicopter spinning out of control.  Well, that is exactly what happened.  The helicopter began twisting out of control before slamming to the ground, critically injuring one of the crewman on board. 

It is worth mentioning here that the use of a Blackhawk Helicopter can run around $2,800 an hour to operate.  This doesn’t include the manpower and other resources being used for this effort.  The only time those being rescued are forced to pay back some of that money, is if they are found to be negligent.  And even that caps out at $500 a piece. 

In December 2006, there were three climbers who attempted to scale Mt. Hood.  They were caught in a terrible blizzard, which isn’t uncommon this time of year, and subsequently lost their lives.  The rescue efforts, though desperate, were in vain.  In an exerpt from CNN News, Tom Kovacs, the former President of the Mountain Rescue Association had this to say…

“Rescues on Mount Hood are primarily done by volunteers. The expenses for the sheriff's departments run about $1,500 to $2,000 a day, Kovacs said. The full-time deputies and crews provide the logistics to set up the search, and the volunteers do the bulk of the work in the field.  When the hypothetical cost of the unpaid volunteers is added, the price for a typical 18-hour rescue mission shoots up to about $8,000. In the more dangerous parts of Mount Hood, the typical rescue mission is two to three days, Kovacs said.  When helicopters from the military or Oregon National Guard are used, the cost can go up thousands of dollars. The smallest choppers run about $750 an hour, and the larger helicopters can easily cost more than $2,000 an hour, Kovacs said. Add to that overtime, meals and supplies, and the number keeps rising.  Part of the cost is covered by the military, because some helicopter use is considered basic training. Some states provide money to reimburse local authorities and donations contribute a portion of the cost, but whichever way you look at it, taxpayers foot much of the bill.”

Now, I may not be a smart man, but I have to wonder…just how smart is it to attempt to climb these monsters?  If it is such a big deal to climb these mountains, in peak blizzard season, then maybe we should make this a spectator sport.  Maybe we should charge admission for people to watch these selfish idiots attempt to have their day of glory, all at the expense of those who may very well be leading search efforts to find them later.  How else are these rescue efforts going to be funded?  I don’t know, maybe it’s just me…but it seems to me, that rescue efforts are only being made because of selfish and foolish decisions being made by “glory seekers”.  Unfortunately, some will never know, and to those who lead these rescue missions, the glory of rescuing those who have been stranded become tainted, because they have basically just rescued idiots!!!