PSA Dont scale a cliff while on a hike

  • Thread starter Thread starter jedishrfu
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Scale
AI Thread Summary
A hiker attempted to scale a vertical wall with helicopter backup, raising questions about potential charges for rescue services. In some regions, individuals may be billed for rescue costs if deemed negligent, such as hiking in restricted areas. A personal account highlighted the high costs of rescue operations, with one individual sharing their experience of a CHF 4,500 helicopter rescue in Switzerland after an ankle injury from a falling rock. The discussion emphasizes the financial implications of outdoor activities and the risks involved in climbing, suggesting that those unprepared for such challenges may face consequences.
Physics news on Phys.org
I wonder if he got charged for the cost of that rescue. There are some places where you get charged if it is determined that you should have known better and not done what you did (or went hiking in a closed area, for example)...
 
  • Like
Likes russ_watters, Astronuc and BillTre
berkeman said:
I wonder if he got charged for the cost of that rescue. There are some places where you get charged if it is determined that you should have known better and not done what you did (or went hiking in a closed area, for example)...
Society's little tax on the stupid.
 
  • Like
Likes russ_watters
berkeman said:
I wonder if he got charged for the cost of that rescue. There are some places where you get charged if it is determined that you should have known better and not done what you did (or went hiking in a closed area, for example)...
My Alps trip this year ended when I got hit on the ankle by a falling rock and I had to call for the rescue helicopter (first time ever). It cost CHF 4,500 (regardless of circumstances) - although that was covered by my mountain rescue insurance. Nothing is cheap in Switzerland.
 
  • Like
Likes russ_watters
I was climbing the Dreieselwand, which is the snow face on the Lenzspitze when a rock came out of nowhere (I didn't even see it) and thumped me on the left ankle. I got to the summit, but the only way off is to climb the ridge on the right. I got as far as the summit of the Nadelhorn climbing on one foot and one knee by the end (actually not as hard as you'd think), but my ankle was so painful by then, that I decided not to risk the descent and aggravating the injury any further.

Lenzspitze Nadelhorn 3.jpg
 
  • Like
  • Wow
Likes Astronuc, Keith_McClary, BillTre and 2 others
Hike a mountain - for the faint of heart.
Use a bicycle.

Riding the white line


 
  • Like
  • Wow
Likes jedishrfu, Astronuc and PeroK
Just ONCE, I wanted to see a post titled Status Update that was not a blatant, annoying spam post by a new member. So here it is. Today was a good day here in Northern Wisconsin. Fall colors are here, no mosquitos, no deer flies, and mild temperature, so my morning run was unusually nice. Only two meetings today, and both went well. The deer that was road killed just down the road two weeks ago is now fully decomposed, so no more smell. Somebody has a spike buck skull for their...
Thread 'RIP George F. Smoot III (1945-2025)'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Smoot https://physics.berkeley.edu/people/faculty/george-smoot-iii https://apc.u-paris.fr/fr/memory-george-fitzgerald-smoot-iii https://elements.lbl.gov/news/honoring-the-legacy-of-george-smoot/ https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2006/smoot/facts/ https://www.aps.org/publications/apsnews/200611/nobel.cfm https://inspirehep.net/authors/988263 Structure in the COBE Differential Microwave Radiometer First-Year Maps (Astrophysical Journal...
Back
Top