Locator controversy reignites amid latest rescue

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PORTLAND, Ore. - As rescue teams raced against the winter weather to find two missing climbers on Mount Hood Monday, the incident has refueled the debate as to whether climbers should be required to carry emergency-locator units while climbing mountains.

The proposal to require that people wear the locators almost made it through the Oregon Legislature two and a half years ago, but local climbing groups said the law could make things worse if people learn to depend on the beacon instead of their own survival skills.

“I think it will create a false sense of security,” said Brian Wheeler, a survival expert with Northwest School of Survival.

Some in the local climbing community said if locators are required it could lead to more rescues as more inexperienced people or more daring people hit the mountain.

Portland Mountain Rescue in a statement released Saturday on its Web site said they are against requiring locator beacons to be carried by climbers because it will increase the risk to both climbers and rescuers.

 “Our organization has decades of mountain rescue experience that suggests people tend to take more risks than they would otherwise if beacons are too strongly promoted. Requiring beacons to be carried suggests that the devices are so effective that they will save your life and that rescue is almost assured if a climber carries one,” the organization said.

Three climbers died on Mount Hood three years ago, and the year after the tragedy Oregon lawmakers tried to make the beacons mandatory. But the push for the law did not survive.

John Lim, who is now running for governor, said Monday that he will try again if he gets elected.

Wheeler said there are other issues as well. If climbers must wear beacons they may think they are entitled to a rescue under any conditions.

“If it’s state law that you must carry this and you do, and you’re not found in time, then what?” Wheeler said. “… in this lawsuit day and age, people will sue.”

Money is another issue. Some people said they think mandatory beacons would save taxpayers money that would be spent on a rescue effort.

But the local climbing community said much of the rescue efforts are by volunteers.

Another money question: Should the people rescued have to pay? Some climbing groups said forcing people to pay for their rescues will cause them to delay calling for help and possibly make the situation worse.