Now for something completely different

I remember a number of years ago - maybe back about 1997 - I wrote a letter to the Seattle Times in response to a rather lengthy search and rescue mission for some missing climbers on Mt Rainier. In I took a look at the costs of search and rescue and how such things are funded. I'm not certain of what has changed since that time but what I recall is that for most of us, for most of the time, we're pretty much expecting that someone will come and get us if we are injured or lost or for some reason unable to make our way out of the mountains.

The Rainier episode utilized high altitude helicopters stationed at Fort Lewis or McCord Air Force Base. It was characterized as a training opportunity for the pilots and crew as well as a rescue mission. This, I think, was intended to stave off negative comments about taxpayers foothing the very expensive bill for all those hours of flying. I pointed out in the letter that not everywhere provides this gratis rescue service. I suspect things have tightened up a bit since then and would not be surprised to learn that rescuees are being tagged with a charge for retrieval services.

At Denali National Park there is a fee system in place that offsets much of the cost of rescue of the tallest mountain in North America. You can imagine the costs there are high because of the remoteness and high altitude. In Europe, even all those years ago, stranded climbers were expected to open their wallets.

And then today, while reading a news update / blog on the climbing season at Everest, I ran across this - For a relatively minor investment, they'll come and get you.
http://www.globalrescue.com/

Here is their blog with recent stories. http://blog.globalrescue.com/


Just when you think you've seen it all....