nube said:
I know this took place in the US, but I wonder how much is cost to search for them and if those costs are recoverable. I don't know why the taxpayers have to foot the bill for that type of activity. It is not a public park but a wilderness area. Users of a wilderness area should carry some type of insurance in the event that they run into trouble. A desiginated park is a differnet matter.
Just my opinion.
I don't think that the Air Cavalry Regiment considers the chance to test their skills a bad thing, the unfortunate truth is that they love it when some dumb fuck screws up by the numbers because it's the only time that the taxpayer will pay for high intensity training.
As more information becomes available, it becomes more and more apparent that the 3 climbers made a series of bad choices.
1. It's apparent that they didn't check the weather.
2. They weren't carrying needed equipment, nevermind any provision for accident.
3. It's clear that they were recovering their holds as they accended. That's just cheap and stupid. Modern holds are BIC and not intended for reuse.
4. It's clear that they summitted and had 1 or more of them fall as they started down. This could have been because of speed and poor technique or it could been a failure of a reused hold. What it did do is result in a seperated shoulder for the climber found dead.
5. It's clear that the other 2 climbers were alive on Saturday morning. One climbed up and found their friend dead, this is why the Y was cleared and visible. It wouldn't have been if someone hadn't cleared it after the storm.
6. It's clear that the other 2 climbers didn't want to be in the same snow cave as a seriously injured man. The snow cave they used isn't that far from their "friend's" and they checked the first cave before starting off the mountain.
7. It's clear that the other 2 climbers suffered a second accident on Sunday or Monday. Whether from excess speed, poor technique or poor equipment they are most likely in the ravine. If they were still alive, they would have responded to all the activity. The area that they have been tracked to doesn't offer locations for snow caves and therefore they couldn't be holed up.
8. If they had holed up in the first snow cave, they would all be alive and off the mountain. The dead climber was found because the trace on his cell phone got the searchers close enough to find the Y. Three people would have been able to keep warm enough to be alive on Monday. One injured person alone and unable to care for himself was guaranteed to result in at least one dead.