[Cyclopath]

I think Americans are puritanical in a lot of ways, and there is a pervasive belief that fun is dangerous. You shouldn't take risks just for the sake of having fun.

[Kim Brown]

Who would be the judge? In 2015, people on Facebook were encouraging new hikers to go to Hidden Lakes lookout during that low snow winter, and told them to not worry about snow (there was snow). If someone needed rescue as a result of poor advice given, who will be the judge of that new hiker? Bill the costs because they chose the wrong source? Or if someone who may not be that sharp made decisions that you and I think are dumb, but given that person's limited mental capacity makes sense to them; and they got into a jam - how would you judge? How about the grandpa with dementia who leaves his home to go for a walk and gets lost in town? Would the family be charged for not locking grandpa up so he can't get out? Who would prepare the bill and who would collect the money, where would it go, and who would pay the staff that handles it? I don't agree people should be charged for many reasons already stated.

[neek]

[BigBrunyon]

Needs to be an exception to the rule if you have over a certain number of instagram followers!!! There comes a point for some of these Big Time Influencers where the income from each post is so much that it makes business sense to just PAY and call in a SAR heli to get to another sought after destination ASAP for the next post!!! Some of the biggest Big Names are already doing this at the 25k level!! Rakin in millions from instagram and leveraging SAR as a chauffeur service!!!!!

[kvpair]

[Randito]

[kvpair]

[Randito]

[kvpair]

Returning to the context of the OP, I'm tempted to make an exception for this guy.

[Kim Brown]

[coldrain108]

[Kim Brown]

[RumiDude]

[FiveNines]

[Anne Elk]

Bumping this thread up to share two recent stories from the NYTimes about two quite different cases in the National Parks where people were charged, both literally and legally. It makes sense in the first instance - especially to prosecute. Doctor Charged With False Report to Summon Helicopter on Denali "Federal prosecutors said the climber called rescuers to say that two other people on the mountain, the tallest in North America, were having a medical emergency. But it was a ruse." The next case just seems wrong, unless it's now Fed policy to charge for NP rescues depending on "subjective" NPS or court determinations of negligence. Probably not a good precedent. Treasure Hunter Who Got Lost in Yellowstone Must Repay Cost of Rescue The hiker's reason for being there, and his lack of preparedness are beside the point. Also being a doofus, which is often the case. "He wore a T-shirt, jeans, a light windbreaker and tennis shoes. Mr. Lantis carried a small backpack, water, bear spray, a cellphone, a walkie-talkie and a hand-held GPS. He packed no food. During his hike, Mr. Lantis noticed bear fur and droppings. When he got to the base of Mount Holmes, he decided to head back. He thought that going off trail would help avoid bears."