Dr. Cameron Bangs helped bring the devices to the mountain after eight people - including six children - died in a snow cave in 1986 in what is referred to as the Oregon Episcopal School tragedy.

"I wouldn't climb Mount Hood without it," said the doctor, who believes the personal locator beacons should be required equipment. "Well, I think probably it would be a good thing if they were mandatory."

Twenty years ago, the transmitters were new, bulky and difficult to find. But now, thanks to the doctor's efforts, they are for rent for $5 at shops around the mountain's base. They are similar to radio collar tracking devices that can pinpoint climbers to within a few inches.

Even sporting goods stores such as G.I. Joe's sells them. They run about $600, which is comparable to other climbing gear.

"It gives your exact GPS coordinates," said James Thomas of G.I. Joe's. "Latitude. Longitude. Tells you how deep you are if you are stuck underneath."

The devices send a pulse or beacon to two different satellites, which in turn triangulate a climber's location within a few hundred yards. And they have worked on mountains that climbers ascend around the world.

Since 1985, more than 25,000 people have been saved using a personal locator beacon. Today, some of them are as small as a cell phone.

But some extreme skiers and mountain climbers are resistant to use them - possibly because it restricts the freedom such outdoorsmen seek.

"We climbers don't like anything that's too mandatory," Bangs said. "We like to stay independent. So I think there's mixed feeling."

Steve Rollins, president of Portland Mountain Rescue, said a mountain locator unit can add significant extra weight - and climbers like to travel light so they can climb quickly out of harsh conditions. It should be up to the climber to decide whether to include such a device in their pack. 

"While the rescue community feels beacons are valuable, they are not in favor of mandating them," he said.

Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski also weighed in on the issue, saying he doesn't believe the devices should be mandatory on Mount Hood.

"We always think there's an answer by telling people the government can do something for them," Kulongoski said. "Ultimately, I think you have an obligation to look at yourself and make a decision on it."