Mount Hood Rescue Aided by Beacon, Dog

for some reason, I think they should close the mountain for climbers in winter and open it back up in Spring.

I am so sick of this crap...I live here and I would love to climb mt. hood but I don't because I do not want my ego risking other peoples life to save mine when an accident or arrogance gets me in a dire situation.

if you climb climb at your own risk and if you get stuck or lost oh well. UNLESS before you leave you pay a $50,000 refundable fee that says if I get lost and I need help, people are getting paid and it is their job to find me that way they are choosing to be just as ridiculous climbing a mountain like this during this time of year and it is paid for by the people who find it necessary to climb it. Therefor I am completely fine, for enough money you can buy all the stupidity you want

I passed the rescuers on my way back from the mountain yesterday (x-country skiing is much safer). Multiple vehicles carrying multiple people blew past me. Some had emergency lights and were speeding on the snow. I may sound like a hard-heart, but I'm getting more than tired of these climbers and their drain on $$$ and resources for rescue. Climbing of Hood, if done at all, should be a summer-only sport.

The climbers should pay for their own rescue.(If they make it)they are putting other people lives in jeopardy besides there own.

Seems weird to me that the AP would report them as rescued when they are still on the mountain.

Just go to the Timberline or Meadows and ski or snowboard fercryinoutloud...

I'm GLAD the dog is OK - He/She didn't make a decision to do something this stupid!

This kind of thing really cracks me up. A question posed to all.... What makes a person think "hey, lets go climb a mountain where 3 climbers recently met their fate as human pop sickles". Maybe if we get lucky we stumble accross one of the frozen coprses still on the mountain. There won't be another winter storm in winter on us, we're too lucky. I've climbed this mountain before. I'm immune from falling, equipment failure, or adverse weather. Oh, and lets take my poor dog up the mountain and make him risk his life too. Are these people on dope? Have they experienced blunt head trauma somewhere in the past? Did they inadvertantly ingest lead based paint chips as children? What is wrong these clowns? What are their other hobbies? Smearing themselves with sheeps blood and swimming with great white sharks? Blindfolded jogging on rail road tracks?

By sending sane people up a snowy mountain after insane people goes against natural selection. Natural selection weeds out the sick, the week, the old, and yes....the stupid. Gee, I wonder were these rocket scientists fall?

Some of you may think I'm being a "hater" or hateful, but to the contrary, I'm just poking fun at some idiots. Comon, say the words out loud to yourself a couple times. "Lets climb Mt. Hood. Three people were just killed there in a winter storm. It's still winter, but it won't happen to us". What's kind of idiot says "yaaaa, lets do it". I'm not even going to get started on how irresponsible it is to put other lives at stake trying to save those who foolishly risk theirs. Hey, if they want to jump off a cliff, let em jump.

I agree with paying the costs. I work and live on the Mountain and I deal with ground services up there. The problem Is not being aware of the varied elements of mountain conditions. I speak to many Climbers, Ski Patrol, the PMR and Clackamas Rescue personnel in my job capacity. Most climbers are prepared, many are not. Many look at Mt Hood and assume it is an easy mountain to climb. That is the primary mistake. It is also not the ski areas responsibility to maintain avalanche safety in out of bounds territory, we do however take care of the cornices with in our boundaries and maintain Skier/boarder safety with in our operations. Climbers do not pay the ski areas to climb and or to use parking facilities, bathrooms etc. Simply put they do not contribute to costs they add to it. Not the issue here. So this would be a USFS issue with regards to Mountain safety. Bottom line. Planning and preparation and personal risk management is what will keep you out of trouble and if you do find that you are in trouble, The varied teams dealing with your search and rescue will be able to coordinate the operation fast and effectively if you provide them with the tools to do so.

Example I had 12 climbers who were going to stay at Silcox Lodge and we went down to Climber services which was closed due to inclement weather conditions. Poor visibility chance of Ice storms and high winds up the Hogs Back elevations. Even though it is not our responsibility we do suggest that every one has a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon). These were not available. The 12 climbers all very sure of themselves and very dismissive with me looked at each other and basically stated they would go up anyway. So I directed them to Jim Tripp who knows that mountain better than anyone I know in order to hopefully sway them away from going up. I am sure they didn't go up but it was their attitude that they were above the mountain conditions and nothing could possibly happen to them. This is all to often the attitude.