Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Danger Seekers

The climbing group on Mount Hood was saved by their dog, Velvet, but rescuers were able to find them thanks to a Mountain locator unit.
It's a small, lightweight devices about the size of a glasses case. It can emit a signal helps rescuers pinpoint the location of missing or stranded climbers. When activated, the beacons send out a distress signal that allows the beacon to be located by the satellite system. The devices can transmit GPS coordinates in the emergency satellite transmission.
Lawmakers now want every climbing group to carry one of these, but believe it or not some are objecting.
They say it takes the adventure out of climbing. If the only thrill of climbing is the possibility of death, then let's make that possibility more real by refusing to rescue dumbasses who get stuck without taking the proper precautions to ensure their rescue.

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