Avalanches in the Back Country

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Canadian sources have reported a larger than normal number of avalanches in the back country this year coupled with many more rescue call outs.  The government is considering more and stricter regulation of out-of-bounds winter sports activities together with more stringent penalties for violating them.

The Italians are considering many more out-of-bounds restrictions for the Alps, including refusing rescue calls.  They have had a lot of deaths this year among the SAR groups.

Should stupidity be its own reward?  Removal of these idiots from the gene pool might not be all bad.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Only if they dont take proper precautions.

if your climbing Everest and dont take any rope you dont deserve to be rescued.

If your equipment fails climbing Everest and you break a leg, you send rescue.

[BoxCarRacer 1]

Stupidity and idiots aren't the correct terms. A lot of these people practice their "winter activity" for many years and many are even professionals. They know what they are doing, its just you can't always beat nature.

[fukuda 351]

Should stupidity be its own reward? Removal of these idiots from the gene pool might not be all bad.quote>

Some time ago it was proposed that people calling the emergency services for this kind of accidents during a dangerous season (like avalanches season) would have to pay the entire fare of it instead of the government (including helicopter transport). You cannot refuse rescue calls though, that's illegal (and hardly ethic).

And the main problem is that their activity actually puts in danger more people than the ones directly involved in causing the avalanche.

[CHR 2]

It's reasonable to refuse rescue calls if there is a reasonable danger to the rescuers. After all, the people who do risky activities know there are risks involved. They should be allowed to do dangerous activities if they so choose, but to then expect rescue services to go into dangerous situations to rescue them is hardly fair.

The emergency services should be able to refuse rescue requests if an area has been declared dangerous, such as in the case of a storm or in avalanche season. There seem to be all too many cases where rescuers end up dying rescuing people who were taking unnecessary risks.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Link Considering the fact that both U.S. and Canada will follow these protocols, it is interesting how quickly these have been put in place.