I've had this on my mind for a while, and an article from NH pushed me to post this.

Some people like to climb mountains, explore caves, and swim through flooded caves. Then they run into trouble and call for help. Up to a hundred rescuers spend several days trying to help them, with some of the rescuers dying as a result. I realize we are free to explore wherever we want, but isn't there a limit to what we can expect others to do when we run into a problem. Yes, I know that many of the rescuers are volunteers, but a volunteer who rushes from his house and never returns might regret his decision. At least his wife and kids would regret it.

If you are climbing mountains thousands of feet high with blizzard conditions, you know you are putting your life at risk. How can you expect dozens of other people to risk their lives to save you? The same goes for exploring caves and cave diving. Those activities are incredibly dangerous, and the people know that going in. In many cave diving locations, there are signs with pictures of the Grim Reaper warning divers to go no farther, yet they continue, get stuck, and die. Then volunteers have to go where no one should be going to recover the body.

What prompted me to finally post this is an article in Today's Boston Globe. The state of NH has limited resources to rescue hikers who run into problems.

...hikers venturing into the mountains with minimal precautions, especially during the pandemic, when a surge of novices had embraced the outdoors with little appreciation for its dangers. It had strained the capacity of rescuers, a hardy band of government employees and volunteers, and placed them in precarious situations time and again.

...prompting New Hampshire officials to take a defiant stand against irresponsible hiking that has rippled through the mountaineering world from the Cascades to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The sign below is located in caves throughout the world, warning divers to go no farther.

I've had this on my mind for a while, and an article from NH pushed me to post this.

Some people like to climb mountains, explore caves, and swim through flooded caves. Then they run into trouble and call for help. Up to a hundred rescuers spend several days trying to help them, with some of the rescuers dying as a result. I realize we are free to explore wherever we want, but isn't there a limit to what we can expect others to do when we run into a problem. Yes, I know that many of the rescuers are volunteers, but a volunteer who rushes from his house and never returns might regret his decision. At least his wife and kids would regret it.

If you are climbing mountains thousands of feet high with blizzard conditions, you know you are putting your life at risk. How can you expect dozens of other people to risk their lives to save you? The same goes for exploring caves and cave diving. Those activities are incredibly dangerous, and the people know that going in. In many cave diving locations, there are signs with pictures of the Grim Reaper warning divers to go no farther, yet they continue, get stuck, and die. Then volunteers have to go where no one should be going to recover the body.

What prompted me to finally post this is an article in Today's Boston Globe. The state of NH has limited resources to rescue hikers who run into problems.

...hikers venturing into the mountains with minimal precautions, especially during the pandemic, when a surge of novices had embraced the outdoors with little appreciation for its dangers. It had strained the capacity of rescuers, a hardy band of government employees and volunteers, and placed them in precarious situations time and again.

...prompting New Hampshire officials to take a defiant stand against irresponsible hiking that has rippled through the mountaineering world from the Cascades to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The sign below is located in caves throughout the world, warning divers to go no farther.

One of the prettiest places I know is Glen Onoko. It is a brisk stream that flows for about half a mile down the crotch where two hills meet. The climb is difficult and there have been many injuries (mostly sprained ankles and broken legs and arms), but there have been a few deaths through the years as well. Thirty years ago when first moving to the area I would hike the trail a couple of times a year. There are many waterfalls and while most are knee high, there are three major falls of about 8, 15, and 33 ft. with the large fall at the very top of the hill. About three years ago the park service put up signs closing the trail. They said they could no longer endanger their rangers and volunteers to pluck people out of ravines and off hillsides. Today if caught on the trail there is a 75.00 fine.

Arizona enacted the Stupid Driver Law for the idiots who drive through a running wash after a monsoon storm. It is rarely used unfortunately. Once the news showed a live rescue of five or six people stuck in the middle of a normally dry wash which was running several feet deep. A helicopter arrived and saved each passenger from the Hummer's sun roof. Once they were safe the chopper returned for the driver. They picked him up and placed him on the shore, safe, and he raised his arms and pumped them in victory. What an idiot. He had to drive around barricades to even get stuck. The state charged him for his rescue. I wish the state used this law more.