Fatalities on Mt. Hood too!

“7 Mount Hood Climbers Fall in Crevasse

TIMBERLINE LODGE, Ore. (AP) — Seven climbers fell into a crevasse near the summit of Mount Hood on Thursday, and authorities said at least one was feared dead.

Two groups of climbers were about 800 feet from the summit at 9 a.m. when they fell, said Angela Blanchard, Clackamas County sheriff's spokeswoman.

Several climbers were injured, and rescuers have been mobilized, she said.

A paramedic who was with the group did not fall into the crevasse and was trying to guide rescuers using his cell phone, Blanchard said.

No other details were immediately available.


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“When I lived in Phoenix, people kept falling off Camelback mountain. So the newspapers kept reporting how unsafe rock climbing was. People at work (old worry warts) kept reminding me about the hazards of rock climbing and reminding me about the people who died.


Several times I sat there thinking "SITTING ON YOUR FAT AS$ AND WASTING YOUR LIFE AWAY DOING NOTHING IS DANGEROUS TOO! DID YOU EVER THINK ABOUT THAT??!! WHAT ABOUT GETTING IN YOUR CAR EVERYDAY..."

I didn't say anything though. I might be high strung but I'm not crazee.

hmmm. These guys were apparently very unlucky or they didn't know what they were doing.”

“I've almost bled to death from paper cuts and a computer monitor almost crushed my head once.

There is danger in an office environment, deadly danger.”

“Heck, my parents consider the Smokies dangerous. I think the crappy driving by tourists is. I feel much safer out on the trail.”

“Don't Tell Me 'Bout No Damn Papercuts!!!

I used to run a check sorting machine. I needed kevlar gloves and a respirator.

And don't get me started with the kitchen.”

“Now a helicopter has crashed trying to save the 7.”

“No way????????

8o”

“they don't know what happened ,but have video of it spinning out then rolling maybe 500 feet down the glassier.”

“Rescue Helicopter Crashes in Oregon
Thu May 30, 5:04 PM ET
By JOSEPH B. FRAZIER, Associated Press Writer

TIMBERLINE LODGE, Ore. (AP) - A helicopter crashed Thursday while attempting to rescue nine climbers who fell into a crevasse near the summit of 11,240-foot Mount Hood.


It wasn't immediately clear if anyone aboard the helicopter was injured. Three of the climbers died when they fell, and three others were reported critically injured.”

“This just gets worse and worse.”

“Just saw that video on TV. I think that everyone needs to make sure that you try to be as safe as possible while being out there. More people are lost now and I think it would be a shame if we find out that the people that they were rescuing should not have been there.....”

“Always my first thought, as well, Laqtis.... Were these people prepared and qualified to be there?”

“I've got friends in Portland who are always climbing the mountains in the area. So everytime this happens, I worry a bit for them. My uncle had a friend die in an avalanche on Mt. Hood a couple years ago.”

“I just got off the phone with a friend and was told that it was two roped teams that fell...one with the Fire Department another was a local climbing club, no one can figure out what happened yet, they say the weather was perfect....

1 in the chopper injured critically
3 climbers dead

Deja Vu
About two years ago we had a search on Shasta, a Black Hawk and a Chinook chopper was used to fly us around...the Chinook was forced down due to equipment problems, when they couldn't find the spare part to fix it the pilot said "I think we can make it back to base, lets give it a try"...the Black Hawk crashed when they got too close to the saddle between Shasta and Shastina, no one was seriously injured, but the ship was up there for months before they could haul it out......we never found the guy we were looking for.”

“I believe she said the teams were roped together...8 on a rope...not sure why they would do that.”

“I just saw some it on TV man that looked just flat out nutz!

8|”

“If you saw the chopper go down, that's EXACTLY what happened on Shasta...

I'm beginning to think the ships have a stability problem when hovering near a large 45/50 deg slope...perhaps an updraft or downdraft forms and draws the blades into it.”

“It is a bit sad but (I hope) they were doing what they loved.”

“They were talking about this on the nightly news. The usual A-holes who complain about taxpayer's dollars being used to rescue climbers and hikers jumped into the fray, as usual.

This got me thinking, they like to say that "us" outdoor enthusiasts(sp?) should shoulder the costs of such rescue operations. I've got another opinion on this, For example: my father takes his boat out into the ocean, the gearbox goes out, and he is recued free of charge by the coast guard. If he had ran out of gas, he would have to pay the rescue expenses. I do not have a problem with this, unless it applies only to boaters and ORVer's

So....By the same logic, hikers, climbers, and such should only have to pay the rescue expenses if they do not have the proper equipment.(maps, compass,gps, appropriate climbing gear, ect.) The average "Joe" on the street would gladly stick it to the hiking/climbing community on this issue, we are not a big enough group to combat this alarming idea, unless we draw boaters and ORVer's into the debate. When they start thinking they'll get hammered for a $500/hour helicopter charge/Boat rescue, plus god knows what else they'll add to the bill, I'm sure this bad idea will go away. Tell your friends, or an honest accident could be costing you "$" for the rest of your life...”

“Most rescue teams are actually made up from volunteers, with the Sheriffs Office supplying some man power and logistics...when it really hits the fan they call in the National Guard, Air Force or Coast Guard to assist.

The cost of a search is seldom billed to the individuals, usually you bill the county or city where they come from. In some areas the county's have a deal kind of worked out, because they share so many resource's and often use SAR teams from neighboring county's they don't bill each other when looking for some one from a near by county.

In some places, like climbing Denali, they check your equipment and ask lots of questions, then you have to pay a small fee or deposit (I can't remember) that goes towards a rescue fund, just incase. A few years ago a climbing team called for a rescue on the mountain, while they were being flown back the chopper pilot asked what happened...one of the guys said "we weren't really in trouble, we wanted to get home in time to watch the Super Bowl"....they billed them for sure!!!!

Funny , well not really, but some folks think it's their right to get rescued....I like the way they do it in some places in Europe, your told...the mountains are very dangerous, people die up there all the time, if we can,we might try and rescue you, then again perhaps not, go at your own risk.”

“Our tax dollars bought the helecopters, boats, and planes used for such rescues. If someone is a total dumbass, unprepared, or wants to make it back in time for the big game, then he/she should be hammered in the pocketbook; but in a sense we do have a right to be rescued, we bought the equipment...

I realize that the victims are seldom ever charged, but there is that part of society that thinks they should be, and that's a real threat when it's focused on a group of people who's numbers are too small to do anything about it.

I think we all can appreciate the volunteers, as well as the professionals, who risk their lives to save ours, but lets not put a price on their compassion/duty; unless, like I said someone was really asking for it.

Do we make it OK to charge people on the spot for police and fire protection as well? We should, as hikers and climbers, shoulder some responsibility; but we all know that accidents can happen despite the best intentions and preparations.

As for Europe: They pay $7 for a gallon of gas, tolerate people shooting up in the streets, and smell bad, Why would we follow their lead on mountain rescues?

I like the deposit idea though, for especially risky areas.”

“If you expect someone to come and save your ass, your more likely to put it in danger...

I'm not advocating a no rescue policy, I am saying people should take responsibility for their own actions.....”

“D@mn, it's been a bad year for climbers so far.”

“"To whom much is given, much is required."”