Search scaled back for 4 lost on Mount Rainier

duallydave said on January 24, 2012 at 6:41 PM

It seems to me that people that want to put themselves at risk in these conditions should be REQUIRED to carry a GPS personal locator beacon. The park service could rent them with the condition that "you broke it you bought it" and a deposit that would cover the cost.

kim070469 said on January 24, 2012 at 6:05 PM

drgnburn...thank you for posts. my niece is the female missing and regardless of whether or not making this trip was a bad decision or not, doesnt mean there isnt family out here hoping for their safe return...

drgnburn said on January 24, 2012 at 3:56 PM

Third off: I am a career firefighter. I applaud the rescue efforts of the search and rescue team that are up there risking their lives to rescue these climbers. But this is what they signed up for!!! As a firefighter I do not get to pick and choose which rescues I go on! I don't get to say that just because you chose to smoke cigarettes I'm not going to help you when you have COPD. Or the driver that was following to closely and cause a fatality accident that I'm just going to leave them there to die. Nor do I get to refuse to go into a house that's on fire of a family that chose not to have a smoke detector and now my crew and I have to go in and risk our lives to save that family. Or a million of other unwise choices that people make DAILY. Yes, I agree it might not have been the smartest decision to climb given the weather forecast. But to all you people thinking that you're gods gift to commenting on other peoples bad choices, get off your pedestal...

drgnburn said on January 24, 2012 at 3:54 PM

Second off: Many mountaineers are members of the American Alpine Club or other such association, which provides for Rescue Benefits up to $10,000. So before you go and ASSUME that they didn't have this type of insurance you might want to know the facts. I don't know whether or not they had this type of insurance but I find it quite ignorant for the people sitting on their couches to just to the conclusion that this rescue is costing oh so much of the tax payers dollars. Go back to stuffing your face with Doritos and sipping on your beer. While others are out exploring nature and enjoying life you can continue adding inches to your beer gut. Congrats.

newlogin86 said on January 24, 2012 at 3:45 PM

So wait, we have worst snow storm in a couple years or more and these adventurists come flocking to hike Mount Rainier?? Did they have a death wish??? I don't get it... I hope they are all ok and had the gear needed to stay alive and warm.. but man, Rainier should have been CLOSED to such activities.

drgnburn said on January 24, 2012 at 3:33 PM

First off: Anyone wishing ill will for the fate of these climbers deserves to rot in hell. How dare you throw stones from your glass house!!! You think everything you do is without danger to yourself and others??? Mountaineering is an inherently dangerous sport and as a mountaineer I know this. But is it any more dangerous than skiing? or snowboarding? or hiking? or any other outdoors activity? And if you're too fat to get up off your couch you have no right to comment on this topic!!!

maltbymike said on January 24, 2012 at 9:02 AM

Stop the search and look for crows in the spring. Stupid is as stupid does. No reason to allow these people to reproduce. Quit wasting tax dollars on government assests for these idiots.

stonetrails said on January 24, 2012 at 7:33 AM

Some of you confuse reckless behavior with accepting known risks. The west wasn’t won by scaredy-cats. We didn’t hole up in our cabins; shy, hesitant, and passively whining about being scalped by Indians if we venture west. The moon was not conquered by a timid, trembling, frightened and boring people. To really live one must be brave, bold, and courageous. We confront fears, not shriek away from them. I hope for the best for these hikers and I also very much admire their willingness to understand and accept the risks. In action is a mistake, not action.

rockyboy said on January 24, 2012 at 4:33 AM

Ditto, pegfa - "Rangers said a hiker contacted them and said he may have saw the groups last Friday..." "May have SAW?!!" Errrrrgh, thank you for playing! Back to school! And to KING5 news management, I know it's a bit of a quaint notion anymore, but "Is there an EDITOR in the house?!!!"

pegfa said on January 23, 2012 at 11:25 PM

I'm sorry for these hikers. Bless their families as they await news. On another note, KING 5, really! Could you write a story at more than a 6th grade level? How many errors can you find in this sentence alone: "Rangers said a hiker contacted them and said he may have saw the groups last Friday -- believed to be the last siting of the missing parties." Have enough respect for the news to take the time to write it well.

teaellem said on January 23, 2012 at 9:43 PM

Forecast for Mt. Rainier for January {any year} SNOWY and DANGEROUS. Hike at your own risk.

slugman said on January 23, 2012 at 9:28 PM

So, to save money on rescues whispah would bring in hordes of rangers to enforce a hiking ban anytime there is a bad weather forecast. Brilliant. Of course he has no evidence to back up his innuendos about the hikers being gung-ho and going for a thrill, it's all just semi-coherent babbling. At least he's not one of the Neanderthals hoping for death. PS: the searchers are volunteers, and they don't need internet dimwits telling them they can't risk their lives trying to help someone else. I know helping someone else is a foreign concept to the right-wing cheapskates who decry the cost of the rescues. Jesus would be turning over in his grave if he hadn't risen from it.

lungthumper said on January 23, 2012 at 8:56 PM

It's about freakin time.

Nacnud said on January 23, 2012 at 8:52 PM

@whispah, not sure you're on the money there. I've read that at least one of the parties was due back on 1/15, which means they had to have set off before that. So, what was the forecast that was available to them before they set off? Do you know? If the storm was forecast before they set off, then perhaps indeed they made a serious mistake. But, let's not make judgements on others' decision-making. For all we know, they made good decisions based on the information available to them, and right now they're dug in to snow caves, getting hungry and cold but otherwise in good shape. I'm rooting for them!

Conseula said on January 23, 2012 at 5:30 PM

@whispah..you are right on the money..I am still and have in past with people who play Russian Routlette at Mt. Rainier, etc.

Conseula said on January 23, 2012 at 5:20 PM

I hope it is a good ending..It should have never happened in the first place..

whispah said on January 23, 2012 at 9:21 AM

I have been following this story, as most of you have, from the beginning. I really hope they are found, and that some necessary changes are made to prevent an unhappy ending, as well as risking the lives of rescuers as well as mega thousands of dollars in search money. First, hikers need to be aware of the weather forecast for the entire duration of their excursions. If they are not then they are foolish not to check. And second, hikers and other adventurers need to be stopped from their activities by the park service as the rangers become aware of the weather. I still do not understand what goes through a persons mind when they know that the weather will be severe and still choose to go?? They not only endanger themselves, but create stress and grief to family and friends. I hope that at least one person learns from this and stays home safe and not be all gung-ho and risk it for the sake of the thrill. Still shaking my head at the foolishness of these 4. Hope it has a good ending