Mount Hood is the highest mountain in Oregon, a state in the western United States. At 3, 400 meters it is attractive to many people, some of whom, of course, run into trouble. Each year 25 to 50 people have accidents or get lost on Mount Hood and require rescue. Although most of these are understandable accidents, a few result from careless risk-taking.
In one recent case, three experienced climbers went hiking (远足) in the middle of a snowstorm in December. Most hikers climb Mount Hood in May or June when the weather conditions are favorable. But in December, the mountain is covered in snow and ice. Winds up to 135 kilometers per hour blow the snow around making it difficult to see. Temperatures can drop below freezing. As one rescue worker put it, “What were they thinking?They were just asking for it. ”
During a rescue a few years ago, a helicopter full of rescue workers crashed (坠毁) and the rescue workers were almost killed. Linda Carle, who lives in the Mount Hood area, asks, “If someone made a poor decision, why should rescue teams have to risk their lives to save them?Why do people take unnecessary risks and do things that aren't right if they know that they can get into trouble?”
Most of the Mount Hood rescue workers are either volunteers or part of the local sheriff's department. There is no charge for these rescues. It is the taxpayers (纳税人) who pay the bill. Linda Carle suggests that people who take careless risks and require rescue should be charged for the rescue. She feels it is only fair that costs for things like damaged helicopters and medical care for rescuers be paid for by the people who took the risks. What would you do if you were the local sheriff at Mount Hood?
