That is my concern. On the same hike where my friend and I turned back due to ice and water on the trail, there was a person going up alone, wearing a tshirt, long sleeved cotton shirt, scrub pants, and tevas without socks, carrying a glass water bottle in their hand. That is all their gear.

My buddy and I are set up to spend the night there if we really, really have no choice, and we just looked at eachother and shook our heads.

Another scenario: 4 foot tall, 400 pound chain smoker with respiratory distress. Should his health care insurance or provider sue the patient for negligence, or choose not to provide care? In this country, citizens have a right to police protection and military defense, provided by government entities. No right to a car, or a hair cut. Public goods vs private goods. Is a rescue service more like police protection or more like a haircut?

No, no right to police protection, unless you count being a "material witness" as police protection.

Do You Have a Right to Police Protection?

Thanks for the correction-I chose my words poorly.