Mt. Hood Dummies: Lost VS Stupidity

Earlier this month the Kim family became lost on their way to their destination. Their unfortunate mistakes, along with an lame emergency services coordinator and football happy sheriff, cost Mr. Kim his life. When about a week passed Mr. Kim made the heroic effort (in desperation) to try and find help for his family. Mr. Kim's body was found not by any efforts of Oregon officials, but by a helicopter hired by Mr. Kim's father.

The Kim family was truly lost, yet official efforts to rescue them in a timely manner remain in doubt.

Now, more deaths in Oregon. Three out-of-state hikers, ignoring many signs, attempt to climb Mt. Hood this month. Now dead, I have to wonder why these three received so much dedicated resources that the Kim family did not.

The Hood Hikers didn't get lost - they knew where they were going, when they were going, and what they chose to do. They took a chance - and lost. Sort of like someone claiming to be an expert swimmer diving off the Golden Gate bridge (duh).

So why was stupidity rewarded over innocence? Good question. Why do I say they were stupid while family members and others say they were experienced climbers? Two BIG signs they ignored:

• Sign 1 ignored: They knew storms were approaching, yet they decided to Go For It
  
  
• Sign 2 ignored: The climbing season for Mt. Hood is between May and July - NOT December, yet they decided to Go For It.
  

While they have climbed other mountains (never Mt. Hood) they surely were not smart climbers:

• No reliable communication devices
  
  
• No GPS devices to relay coordinates should they run into trouble
  
  
• No emergency radio beacon (such as a COSPAS-SARSAT or equiv.)
  
  
• No adequate provisions - they packed light expecting a short trip
  

Then I have to think of the lives at risk and the money spent because of these three dead guys that intentionally did what they did, when they did, and how they did.

I am sad for the families, no doubt about that.

I have to wonder if this same effort applied to the innocent and truly lost Kim family would have prevented the sad death of James Kim.

James Kim's Mistake: Not Knowing Lars Larson

James Kim would be alive right now if only he listened to one of Oregon's Talk Radio host - Lars Larson. If Mr. Kim would have been able to phone Lars or just tuned into Lars's talk radio he would have heard Mr. Larson tell all the reasons that he would die.

You see, Lars Larson is perfect. Lars is a master survivalist. Lars Larson is a legend - at least in his own mind. Yesterday I heard Mr. Perfect whine and complain against Mr. Kim, and attack the actions Mr. Kim took - all that he should have, would have, and could have done. Mr. Larson is the quintessential arm chair survivalist - always ready to bash a person for dying.

In Lars Larson's mind he is perfect, all knowing, and full of common sense. I listened to some of Lars yesterday exploit the sad outcome of James Kim for the sole purpose of puffing himself up and generating phone calls into his radio slot.

For someone that pats himself on the back for great common sense you proved your total lack of it Mr. Larson when you bashed the heroic efforts of Mr. Kim. You have never been in that situation - never. You are just a sorry excuse of a radio talk host that has now proven you would stoop to anything to generate traffic.

Lars claims to be a Christian yet hearing his choice to exploit the situation of Mr. Kim and his family sinks lower than anything I've ever heard any liberal say in all my life. Just stick to drinking the whiskey of your sponsors, smoking their cigars, and day dreaming about getting more ratings Mr. Larson.

I would have prized one minute of knowing James Kim than ever meeting the likes of you Mr. Larson.

My condolences go out to the Kim family and the tragic loss of a courageous husband and father. My praises to the efforts of all those involved in the search efforts.

NOTE: Mr. Kim was in a no-win situation with Lars Larson. Had he stayed with the vehicle and the whole family found dead at some later date Lars would have bashed Mr. Kim for not making an effort to go for help. Such is the shallow exploitive mind of Lars.