Portland Mountain Rescue's stance

PMR foresees three potential and unfortunate outcomes if House Bill 2509 were to pass:
1. Devalues safety education – By providing climbers with a false sense of security we have devalued the motivation to develop the proper safe traveling skills and planning for unexpected situations, thus leading to more rescues.
2. More danger for rescuers - It will place volunteer rescuers in more danger by fostering an unrealistic expectation that carrying government-mandated equipment entitles climbers to rescue regardless of unsafe conditions.
3. Delayed rescue calls – Search and rescue experts indicate that if penalties exist for stranded or injured climbers, who do not carry an MLU/PLB, they often delay calling. This results in further danger for the stranded or injured party and the rescuers alike.


they arent against these devices, they are against idiots using them as their only means of survival
they are supposed to be used in extreme situations, where weather moves in unexpectedly, someone gets injured, etc...
not when a soccer mom gets lost in the woods or a guy needs to take a shit and cant make it back to the car for his tp

people are idiots though, im not sure which way would lead to more people getting lost, but im sure we will go that direction somehow

im all for these things, combined with a gps they are pretty damn badass tools for the backcountry, wish i had one