Spike in tourism leading to more outdoor rescues

[lynne]

The state currently picks up the tab for these rescues. It may be time to charge visitors when helicopters have to be deployed to rescue a wayward tourist. Our state income taxes are quite high and it would be nice to be able to deflect some of the overhead cost. This should also apply to residents who do not abide by safety rules in the water and when hiking.

Spike in tourism leading to more outdoor rescues

www.kitv.com

 

[Brett]

The state currently picks up the tab for these rescues. It may be time to charge visitors when helicopters have to be deployed to rescue a wayward tourist. Our state income taxes are quite high and it would be nice to be able to deflect some of the overhead cost. This should also apply to residents who do not abide by safety rules in the water and when hiking.

Spike in tourism leading to more outdoor rescues

www.kitv.com

generally taxpayers do pay for rescues but I think in some states they attempt to collect for some rescue situations if it's not a national park

 

[am1]

I agree hold people responsible but how much are sunk costs as well as good for training and keeping people sharp.

 

[Passepartout]

Sometimes these 'natural attractions' are magnets that attract foolish risk-takers. Locally, we have the world's highest bridge that is legal year-round for BASE jumping. People come from all over the world to jump off it. But clearly some are unprepared. Some have died after ever more popular 'night jumps', and helicopters are called frequently to bring injured jumpers out of the canyon. They are charged many thousands, but usually skip town. It seems an emergency rescue lasts only as long as the injured is at risk. After that, the volunteer search and rescue people, or taxpayers are on the hook.

Jim

 

[klpca]

To some extent these rescues are used as training but I think that the generosity can end at stupid. Stuff happens - you twist an ankle for example - but if you go off trail or take other unnecessary risks, then I think you should have to repay the costs.

 

[jmhpsu93]

About 20 years ago we hiked the Grand Canyon rim-to-river-to-rim from the south rim. During one of our rest stops we chatted with one of the rangers about how unprepared we saw people were (we had two backpacks' worth of supplies - you'd have thought we'd be there for a week LOL). He said they have daily rescues of unprepared hikers who bring like a half liter of water with them trying to hike several miles down into the Canyon and then get in distress. As we were on the last couple of hundred yards before summiting out we saw a ranger jogging down into the canyon on a rescue, as it's almost impossible to helicopter anyone out except for a few places.

People are idiots.

 

[Passepartout]

No matter what you do, you can't fix STUPID!

 

[MommaBear]

Recently they had to carry a large dog down Mount Washington in NH.

 

[dioxide45]

Similar happens every year on the great lakes. Fishermen (and women) get stuck when ice breaks off and traps them floating out over the water. They have to bring in the coast guard to bring them to shore. It has been suggested that perhaps the individuals should buy some type of insurance to cover this. They are the ones taking the risk by fishing on ice shelves.

 

[lynne]

and another rescue today involving five rescue units with 16 personnel and an airlift. In addtion, two California visitors were airlifted off of Diamondhead.

Woman, 44, airlifted from Maunawili Falls Trail after hurting wrist | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Firefighters rescued a 44-year-old visitor who fell and injured her wrist today while hiking the Maunawili Falls Trail.

www.staradvertiser.com

 

[lynne]

I don't understand why people are not more aware of their surroundings and don't venture onto trails unless they are prepared:

Honolulu firefighters assist lost hikers on multiple trails in Nuuanu | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Honolulu firefighters have been busy rescuing lost hikers visiting from out-of-state in Nuuanu.

www.staradvertiser.com

 

[Snazzylass]

About 20 years ago we hiked the Grand Canyon rim-to-river-to-rim from the south rim. During one of our rest stops we chatted with one of the rangers about how unprepared we saw people were (we had two backpacks' worth of supplies - you'd have thought we'd be there for a week LOL). He said they have daily rescues of unprepared hikers who bring like a half liter of water with them trying to hike several miles down into the Canyon and then get in distress. As we were on the last couple of hundred yards before summiting out we saw a ranger jogging down into the canyon on a rescue, as it's almost impossible to helicopter anyone out except for a few places.

People are idiots.

Yup! On my first visit to GC, an old singing cowboy explained it as cleansing the gene pool. Sick joke and years later he became related to me by marriage.

I blame IG - Instagram. People trekking places they have no business being to get that famous shot.

The stupidity knows no bounds. They've had to close major trails here in the heat because people do not have enough sense to stay off them. The rescuers, fire fighters, were being taken to the Hospital after rescue attempts in the heat due to the heavy equipment they wear. Not worth it!

I saw a well-prepared You-Tuber put herself in danger to help an idiot who did not know her limits. Insisted on hiking to the top. It was well after dark when they climbed down as the YT waited for her out of concern. Ridiculous! The YT was prepared but not familiar with the area; had no idea how common rescues are there.

I recently saw a rescue in a State Park in Indiana, a place I've hiked and camped for 50 years. Never heard of that before! :smh:

 

[klpca]

We also have a local hiking trail that gets a lot of rescues when it gets hot. People underestimate the heat for sure.

 

[Brett]

Yup! On my first visit to GC, an old singing cowboy explained it as cleansing the gene pool. Sick joke and years later he became related to me by marriage.

I blame IG - Instagram. People trekking places they have no business being to get that famous shot.

The stupidity knows no bounds. They've had to close major trails here in the heat because people do not have enough sense to stay off them. The rescuers, fire fighters, were being taken to the Hospital after rescue attempts in the heat due to the heavy equipment they wear. Not worth it!

I saw a well-prepared You-Tuber put herself in danger to help an idiot who did not know her limits. Insisted on hiking to the top. It was well after dark when they climbed down as the YT waited for her out of concern. Ridiculous! The YT was prepared but not familiar with the area; had no idea how common rescues are there.

I recently saw a rescue in a State Park in Indiana, a place I've hiked and camped for 50 years. Never heard of that before! :smh:

happens frequently, like this "TikTok star" last week
https://www.businessinsider.com/xia...uencer-dead-tik-tok-social-media-crane-2021-7

 

[dioxide45]

Many people have the feeling of being invincible, or it won't happen to me. This applies to many age groups but it seems that those in social media are the ones that make the news.

I do think that IG has led to a lot of places seeing more tourists. Especially those out of the way places that previously didn't have a lot of people visiting. Once you have some "influencer" visit and share pictures, then a bunch of people want to visit. They are called influencers for a reason. The problem is that many times the places they go really don't want the exposure, though some other places pay for the exposure.