Cliff Rescue Costs Add Up

[nadinbrzezinski]

Cliff rescues can be exciting to watch, but they happen pretty often.

Besides being costly to the taxpayer, they put lives at risk. It's an average of two rescues every month, and the costs add up.

Emergency crews come to the rescue of all types on the cliffs, from hikers to naked women and even dogs.

“Along the coast we range between 40 to 50 cliff rescues every year,” said San Diego Lifeguards Lt. Andy Lerum.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46303541/ns/local_news-san_diego_ca/#.TzIG__F5mSM

No they are not fun to watch, let alone participate in....

[cliffordu]

1. I BEG your pardon....

I haven't needed rescuing since the last time NYC_SKP and grantcart and I went spelunking on sorority row in Eugene.

Harumph.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. LOL. trust me I needed that.

On serious note, if we ever decide to teach nephews to rappel, I will need to buy new equipment. To be honest, rather not.

[cliffordu]

3. If they really need to rappel....

I'd send them to a nice school, somewhere.

Like the modern version of Outward Bound....

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Well I coud

But it is them, especially the younger. I really do not want to deal with that. So they can learn at camping.

I just get paranoid of using other people's gear. It comes from having been in a rescue unit. Why doing stupid, exciting, stuff like that on vacation, we pass.

But that is for parents to worry. And ignorance is bliss.

I should still replace the line though...if we needed to get out, assuming I could find an anchor... I guess will invest in a window ladder...same price, more or less.

[ellisonz]

5. One false step...

...and it can be game over for both rescued and rescuer. Takes as much brains as guts to do that job.

[Owlet]

6. Add my name to the "charge 'em" crowd

Why should tax dollars be used to save someone who, through overconfidence or stupidity or a combination thereof, puts himself in a situation where he needs to be rescued? We have a park in this state - Sleeping Giant - which has picnic area, hiking trails and, unfortunately, a rock face. Several times a year the local TV station goes all atwitter because some idiot has gotten himself stuck in a crevice or trapped on a ledge. I'm not that much of a social Darwinist as to say let him stay there. By all means rescue the fool, but send him a bill for the costs involved.

A few years back I was driving along and hit a patch of black ice that spun me into a guardrail. Some weeks later I received a bill from the State for the repair of said guardrail. Fortunately, I have an umbrella liability policy that covered the cost. I say let these cliff-climbers be required to get a permit for their activity which is only granted upon proof that they have purchased insurance which will cover any costs of rescuing them.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Here is worst than that.

A rock face is geologically stable...these cliffs, from La Jolla to Ensenada, are not. This complicates the rescue by levels of magnitude... And at times involves ground and air personnel. Why I said they are not fun to watch, let alone participate in. They are down right dangerous. Yup, got a few under my belt in Playas...

Charging them, San Diego started with fools who cross barriers for floods. I agree, after all La Jolla has nice do not cross, unstable cliff signs.