I am following very close the saga of the three stranded men on Mt. Hood in Oregon. I have in my earlier years attempted to climbed Mt. Hood three times, from the "easy" south side. I made it only once. Trust me, nothing is easy when the weather turns on you. I have climbed St. Helens and also the Sisters. I am now much older and would never atempt such a feat. I don't even know if I want to attempt a 20 foot ladder on the side of one of my barns. To hire a young person seems logical to me. I use to have all the gear for climbing (aka circa 1972). Not much has changed only the request by the Forest Service to carry a cell phone, and if I would attemp again today an EPIRB. It would make sense to me for a climber to be required to RENT an EPIRB (emergancy radio beacon) at a resonable cost (deposti of course) and WOLOA...HERE I AM!!. No brainer. But we are now investing thousands to fine these poor souls. I pray they will be found safe and in good shape. Jonezee