Gee, don't tempt me. No, I don't condemn mountaineering. Some areas at some times of the year should be even more restricted though. The point is, there is a blizzard right now regardless of whether December is one of the safer months or not to "attempt Hood from the north." I guess I really look at these three poor guys as victims more than anything else. Victims of the government not passing laws enforcing stricter guidelines due to past lessons that cannot seem to be learned. Regardless of the rescuers knowing the risks they take they should not have to volunteer to be put in harm's way. The risk should not have existed in the first place for them, period.

Can you spell "Climber's License?" (guess you can now since I typed it) Enough tax dollars seen being spent on these type searches and some U.S. Congressman might just get a wild hair. It could happen in this day and age, believe me. Some broad new test and license with a big fee could be imposed in addition to anything that already exists.

I just pray that God will bring them down safely.