An excellent point. This has been the situation for the last fifty years in most western states, at a minimum.

Another point is that something like only 3.4% of the victims of this particular unit, the one that typically gets the calls for Mt Hood, were engaged in mountaineering. 3% were mushroom collectors! This is pretty typical for other mountain rescue units as well, who often deal with motorists who fail to negotiate the curves on mountain highways, to name another victim group.

In a recent thread we discussed the impending demise of volunteerism, specifically with reference to volunteer fire units, due to increasing demands for training and certification. It is a shame, because volunteerism is an important part of our past (think the original Minutemen and barn raisings). SAR volunteers provide a great bargain for the tax payer.