# Should People Be Allowed to Climb Mt. Hood In Winter? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 21, 2009, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-be-allowed-to-climb-mt-hood-in-winter/522071 "2009-12-21T15:16:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-be-allowed-to-climb-mt-hood-in-winter/522071/41 "2009-12-24T20:19:46Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Why should I give a shit about their safety? More importantly, why should I have to pay for it. If they want to be morons and climb mountains for no reason, then let them be accountable for thir own safety. If they don’t make it back, that’s just natural selection, which is a _good_ thing. I assume you are asserting this as a consistent principle and not just a one-off. IOW, you also would oppose spending tax money on other kinds of self-inflicted damage, like smoking-related illness, cirrhosis of the liver due to drinking, diseases associated with obesity, preventable diseases like AIDS, etc. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-be-allowed-to-climb-mt-hood-in-winter/522071/42 "2009-12-24T20:27:24Z")
> [@InterestedObserver](#): > > As for the costs involved, I am not sure what funding sources are in place currently (being the sort who visits Timberline and plays around in “the shallows” but doesn’t try to scale the beast :eek:) but seems like a great deal of fees are collected to use the mountain, and considering how much revenue is generated annually for the entire surrounding community from such recreational uses, the cost of a few annual rescues could easily be “eaten”. Land use and any associated fees are collected by the Mt. Hood National Forest since it is federal land. Search and rescue on the mountain is managed by the county. What needs to be determined if any of the use fees (federal income) are diverted in part to the county to offset any SAR operations (county expense). I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![Silverstreak\_Wonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Silverstreak\_Wonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silverstreak_Wonder)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-be-allowed-to-climb-mt-hood-in-winter/522071/43 "2009-12-27T17:02:54Z")
I have the solution, let them climb only after they post either insurance or a large bond they would get back if not used for a rescue. Everyone would still be free, yet made to be responsible. The insurance regulators in that state would require rescue insurance to be offered if the company sells other kinds in that state, simple easy, and elegant solution to the whole problem. It is really no harder to do than requiring hunting/fishing licenses, and game wardens would arrest anyone without the coverage with mandatory jail time, climbers would get the coverage. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-be-allowed-to-climb-mt-hood-in-winter/522071/44 "2009-12-27T21:23:27Z")
Let them put up a bond that would pay for rescue if they get in trouble. They get back without trouble, they get the bond back. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-be-allowed-to-climb-mt-hood-in-winter/522071/45 "2009-12-27T23:01:48Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Let them put up a bond that would pay for rescue if they get in trouble. They get back without trouble, they get the bond back. Why not have everyone put up a bond against any kind of activity that could require a large amount of rescue effort, such as driving a car? Where does society draw the line, cause I would certainly not draw it here. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-be-allowed-to-climb-mt-hood-in-winter/522071/46 "2009-12-28T00:14:00Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Why not have everyone put up a bond against any kind of activity that could require a large amount of rescue effort, such as driving a car? Where does society draw the line, cause I would certainly not draw it here. We do it when you drive a car. You have to have insurance to protect others and the society from damage you can cause. ---
**Author:** ![JustCallMeTC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e79b87/32.png) [@JustCallMeTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustCallMeTC)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-be-allowed-to-climb-mt-hood-in-winter/522071/47 "2009-12-28T03:08:47Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I was wondering what the local community thinks about the loss of the two climbers on Mt. Hood? > As I understand it, these people were adults, who chose to climb a mountain, knowing that a winter storm was forcasted. > Now, to people are missing and presumed dead. I don’t know how much has been spent on the rescue attempts, but it is probably not a trivial amount. > Should this kind of foolish behavior be allowed? This is an issue that hits close to home literally. I live near Seattle and this stuff happens on Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker all too frequently. I don’t have a problem with people climbing. But I do have a problem when others are put in harm’s way because of the stupidity of climbers. And then there’s the taxpayer that gets stuck all too often with the tab for an expensive rescue attempt. If they are to allow winter climbing, then a few common sense rules should apply and be mandatory IMO. _**They must carry tracking devices. They must pay for insurance to cover the costs of rescue.**_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-be-allowed-to-climb-mt-hood-in-winter/522071.md?page=2)