This is the only news I have on this one. If the details are true in this article then this guy should not have been up there and should have to pay for all costs of this rescue. Again, I don't have all details so my opinion is based on this article. There have been a large number of rescues on Shasta this spring.

LINK:

http://www.redding.com/news/2010/jun/21 ... mt-shasta/

I'm not an advocate of a climber paying rescue fees. I have been on here and news sites many times advocating for the climber. But when a climber goes up without proper experience and gear, then they should have to pay. The article stated he was not experienced and did not have proper gear. Tennis shoes on a major snow covered volcanic peak? Really??

Gravenkamp said Maslov was wearing only shorts, a T-shirt and tennis shoes.

No different than 2/3rds of the folks that I have encountered in the past five years on the Whitney Main Trail on my way to the NF Trail, on a regular basis.

It's the modern mountaineers outfit.

And when shit happens, just dial 911 and wait for the helo to come pick your ass up.

What's the big deal?

In late June, isn't Shasta a bit more of a snow climb than the Whitney main trail?

Have to remember, the first recorded accent of Mt. Rainier was done by a bunch of college students in tennis shoes - "just to see how high they could go".

I'm sure if these people tried again - they'll be wiser and better equiped.

Since I've climbed several peaks as tall as Shasta in the winter with not much more than he was wearing, I won't comment on lack of gear. What struck me about the article was the discussion of his "injuries". He had a couple of scrapes and bruises. Sounds like grounds for a helicopter ride to me.

Bombchaser wrote: Tennis shoes on a major snow covered volcanic peak? Really??

I did Casaval Ridge ridge on Memorial Day weekend. We saw all manners of foot wear comming up Avalanche Gulch from expedition plastic boots to tennis shoes with strap on crampons. All seemed apporpriate given the weather and conditions.

I got a scrape and a cut last weekend, no bruises, but I was a little thirsty. Where's my helicopter ride?

I agree completely, if it is a necessary rescue. Not if it is some jackwad with scrapes and bruises. In that scenario you need to hike out yourself.

Perhaps the article mischaracterized the injuries- wouldn't be the first time. Otherwise the CHP is out there just playing with helicopters.

From what I have read on several news stories on this incident he and his friends were crossing an ice field when he fell. He had no climbing equipment; helmet, ice axe, nothing. He was wearing tennis shoes and slipped. In my opinion, if you try and summit a major peak such as this with none of the basic climbing gear and do it in tennis shoes, your a dumbass. In a case like this that person should pay all costs related to the rescue. incidents like this are going to cause fees to go higher and more restrictions to be placed. I pass people all of the time without the proper gear. Then when something happens they expect the other climbers to come to their rescue and call on their cell phone for a ride off the mountain. The major Cascade peaks are not disneyland, or a city park. They are potentially dangerous, "Climbs" not day hikes. An incident like this also tarnishes the public preception of mountain climbing. Common sense says you don't attempt to scale a snow covered mountain in tennis shoes! I guess you can just use your cell phone and call for a helo when things get difficult because the fees everyone has to pay will save your ass. What a stupid concept.
Another news link:
http://www.mtshastanews.com/newsnow/x62 ... ta-climber

Dingus Milktoast wrote:I couldn't care less about the tarnished image of climbers. Its ridiculous actually, to feel any sense of fault or shame associated with a young man trying and failing to walk up a mountain.

I don't want anyone deciding what mandatory equipment I must take on a climb to be 'rescue ready.' I'll not conform with some stranger's notion of responsible climbing either.

One pays, all pay. You too, if you should ever need a rescue. How you like that?

DMT

+1 Agree with that sentiment.

Dingus Milktoast wrote:I couldn't care less about the tarnished image of climbers. Its ridiculous actually, to feel any sense of fault or shame associated with a young man trying and failing to walk up a mountain.

I don't want anyone deciding what mandatory equipment I must take on a climb to be 'rescue ready.' I'll not conform with some stranger's notion of responsible climbing either.

One pays, all pay. You too, if you should ever need a rescue. How you like that?

DMT

You need to stay off the mountains because it sounds like you have no care for the safety of others or costs. If I ever have to be rescued it will be because of a major accident or illness. I go as prepared as possible when I climb something of this size. I don't go recklessly because I think it's my right to do whatever I please. If you go up in tennis shoes and slip on ice you may not only injure yourself but maybe you will take out another climber on the way down. If I'm out climbing and some moron in tennis shoes comes tumbling down the mountain and injures me, expect a law suit for negligence.

Also agree it would be a huge mistake to have the government step in and tell us what the proper equipment is. If you go down that path, you will be carrying a lot of unnecessary gear. The government can stay out of my climbs as much as possible, requiring a permit is more than enough.

I was on the Teton Crest Trail 2 years ago, when we picked up our permit the ranger advised us to carry an ice ax, due to one of the passes. Said they lifted the requirement to have one the day before. I couldn't believe the nerve he had- I'd never heard of requiring anything like that. Of course him being a ranger and not someone who'd actually been outside recently we ignored him, wisely. When we got to the pass there was an icy snowfield about 30 feet wide easily crossed with ski poles, and circumnavigated if you preferred. Wouldn't have wanted the feds telling me to carry and ax 40+ miles for that.

Bombchaser wrote:You need to stay off the mountains because it sounds like you have no care for the safety of others or costs. If I ever have to be rescued it will be because of a major accident or illness. I go as prepared as possible when I climb something of this size. I don't go recklessly because I think it's my right to do whatever I please. If you go up in tennis shoes and slip on ice you may not only injure yourself but maybe you will take out another climber on the way down. If I'm out climbing and some moron in tennis shoes comes tumbling down the mountain and injures me, expect a law suit for negligence.

File all the lawsuits you want. You are assuming the government will conform to YOUR standards of what is and isn't reckless. Let the rest of us decide for ourselves.