Oregon officials voted today to require mountaineers to carry locator devices when climbing Mount Hood. Three climbers died on the mountain this winter, despite rescue attempts.
Oregon would become the first state to adopt such a requirement if the bill is approved by the Senate and signed by the governor. It would go into effect Jan. 1.
Mountaineering groups said it’s a good idea for climbers to carry electronic locators, but a requirement would infringe on their freedom. They also said requiring the locators could give climbers a false sense of security.
The measure calls for people climbing the 11,239-foot mountain above 10,000 feet to carry a two-way communications device such as a cell phone, satellite phone or radio, and one of the following: a global positioning system receiver, mountain locator unit, personal locator beacon or other comparable technology.
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They also said requiring the locators could give climbers a false sense of security.
All i can say, from spending a couple years ski patrolling on that mountain and meeting a large number of those "climbers", they already have a "false sense of security".
Not all of them by a long way, of course, but enough to justify protecting the dominate minority of them from themselves. After all, if i'm up there being responsible and the nearby Mazama group gets up to their usual antics, i'll be abliged to help.
I don't like the new rule because i don't think i need it.
But i also like to think the rule wasn't made for me specifically.
At least, i hope not.
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