Moderator Note
Keep politics out of this. Do not bring political parties into the discussion here; it is not appropriate.
Keep politics out of this. Do not bring political parties into the discussion here; it is not appropriate.
Is AMC at fault for encouraging people to go out in severe weather because they have a prepaid reservation (presumably one reason this fee is proposed for hut guests)? Should high huts be staffed by people with winter hiking experience and a locker of winter gear kept on site? (That might keep staffers who are experts in alpine botany for instance off the rolls in preparation for an event that might never occur.) Remember that this was late season when many of the regular crew had gone back to school and the staff was a mishmash. And of course it is Fish & Game not AMC with the legal responsibility for SAR. While it is unfortunate for Mr. Barr that more was not done for him, the person most responsible for his death was himself for pushing on in conditions he was not prepared for.
In Germany and Austria the huts above the treeline and out of reach to safely descend are either prohibited to reserve all of their spaces ahead of time or to refuse a 'drop in' customer late in the day. They have two types of accomodations.
2. MatrazzenPlatz (a mattress place) basically large interconnected platforms where everyone sleeps. - not subject to reservation
How many of us would pay $10 for a SAR card good for the lifetime of the person named on it, with these terms:
1) sold by the same agents as sell other F&G licenses, and other places like information centers, outdoor gear stores, etc. Actual cost $11 because the agent gets $1 as their fee.
2) the $10 goes to the SAR fund of F&G.
3) if the owner is ever rescued, the cost to the F&G fund is covered.
4) ...
Creag Nan Drochaid
After the kid got lost on Lafayette on a snowy Columbus Day, there was a public outcry to soak winter hikers. But then the tourist industry didn't want to lose customers, and got it watered down so that even the kid who started everything wouldn't have had to pay. Finally the whole thing died.Didn't they (and we all know who "they " are )try this in the late 70's / early 80's in the White's, dealing with winter rescues.
Enter your email address to join: