$50 for a weekend event might be marketable as a one time insurance cost, like buying flight insurance at the airport right before the plane takes off. I am sure some insurance company would do a statistical analysis and determine a scale for associated risk like this. In some cases, the cost would be much less, like hiking in a city park in Arizona. In other cases, it might get a bit prohibitive, like climbing Mt. McKinley (sp). They could offer discounts for purchasing a GPS, PLB, compass, and/or taking some survival related course.

Actually, the idea of regulating risk like this is revolting, but if they are going to continue using taxpayer money like they have been, and I can't imagine that they'd be able to somehow stop now, then I see no other recourse. Either individuals accept responsibility for the risks they take, or they must have the responsibility forced upon them. There has to be a measure of accountability one way or another. You can't just let people do as they please and expect others to foot the bill for it indefinitely. Sooner or later there will come a time or reckoning.

Or we can become like Finland, and each pay 75% income tax, and have the state provide us whatever THEY think we need, and also tell us what we can and can't do. That levels the playing field pretty much.