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AAC Rescue Insurance Survey

Original Post
Haliku · · Denver, CO · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 5

Numerous posts in the forum have discussed the pros and cons of the current rescue insurance provided with membership in the American Alpine Club. A survey was developed to gather more information as the club reviews changes to the existing policy. Cheers!

inclined.americanalpineclub…

Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280

Went to surveymonkey and filled it out. It's short, just a couple questions long.

Chris Tucker · · Knoxville, TN · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 15

A malware threat was found on this link by my browser (Chrome)

Derek W · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 20
Chris Tucker wrote:A malware threat was found on this link by my browser (Chrome)
Same thread found with mine.

But if you are curious, take a look and read the Colorado Search and Rescue Board's (CSRB) policy for charging for rescue.

"Volunteer search and rescue organizations will not charge for services they provide pursuing or in support of search, rescue or recovery operations; and no request for payment or reimbursement by other agencies or third parties should attribute any portion of the amount requested to any volunteer search and rescue organization."

CSRB website
Rolo Garibotti · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2007 · Points: 10

this is what I wrote as a comment in the AAB blog in response to the survey:

Another badly written survey from the AAC. Just like the previous one, this one is misleading. For example in question 6 one cannot avoid selecting an answer. I wanted to do that and wrote in “other”: “none, US rescue and International rescue should be part of the membership, all others should not apply, and should not be offered” but the survey countered with “This question requires an answer”. Same goes for question 7. I think better attention should be paid to making the surveys less “leading” or “misleading”. I believe that the responses in regards to the AAJ in the last survey had a lot to do with how badly it was written.

my two cents
rolo

Evan S · · Denver, Co · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 510
Chris Tucker wrote:A malware threat was found on this link by my browser (Chrome)
www.malwarebytes.com takes care of anything like that
Buff Johnson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2005 · Points: 1,145
rgaribotti wrote:“none, US rescue and International rescue should be part of the membership, all others should not apply, and should not be offered” ... my two cents rolo
It's just not that simple to incorporate Domestic US & International. Frankly, domestic should be irrelevant due to no charge/no duty which curtails liability so that recreation can remain viable; along with having the NPS or Sheriff in responsibility able to draw resources &/or items allocated in budget such as military and volunteer mutual aid; volunteer does not mean unprofessional, certifications still must be met, it's just not a paid occupation.

International, I don't know that maybe the better idea is just to offer added options for actual service/reimbursement in addition to a membership as each country would have a different philosophy on how they handle rescue and back-country recreation, if the country handles it at all.

This is mostly about trying to get a heli/air transport and not have it be some exorbitant added cost. I think the heli gets used way too much as a matter of convenience; in some societies, quick heli picks are just viewed as a normal course of the mountaineering industry, which is counter-intuitive to the US taxpayer, most of whom think anyone getting off the roadway and going into the mountains are just a bunch of fools that deserve what they get. Granted, mtn rescue doesn't share this view.

Maybe education/information of what is actually available to a given excursion might be the best way the AAC could use its time to membership.

I wonder if something that should be asked, do climbers actually care that a rescue plan is actually viable? I think this is mostly an afterthought until it isn't; then it's a matter of whether or not the team can self-extricate and/or use the help of other nearby climbers.

Really, no matter what the AAC comes up with; it won't be a fix-all. Right now, all I see is a marketing gimmick with GRS; they certainly can't invade another country nor interfere with the NPS or Sheriff because someone hit their emergency beacon.
Parneli Jo · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Mar 2007 · Points: 221

It does make my wife (non-climber) really happy that I have it.

EmilyAAC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2010 · Points: 0

Hey all - our blog seems to have been infected and we're cleaning it up. In the meantime, use this link to access the Rescue survey directly. We've added some options to the question #7 and appreciate your feedback (good and bad). Don't want to write on here? Send the comments directly to planning@americanalpineclub.org.

surveymonkey.com/s/3VSS323

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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