Were they skiing out of bounds?

Send them the search bill.

If they were out of bounds they should get the bill...

I am sure that because mommy made them stand in the corner when they were young there as a lot of scaring of their self esteem so it really wasn't their fault....

From the CBC:

"The three, aged 17, 19 and 22, were found in an out-of-bounds area near the Powder King ski hill. Rescue crews began searching after they failed to return home from a day trip to the mountain."

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/12/10/skiers-missing.html

Send them the bill.

Unfortunately, not everyone can be as smart as you folks are (yes you two, bohemian and gofaster!!). Accidents happen and people get lost, Kids and young people get lost. I for one am very greatful that we have a Search and Rescue just for these occasions. Who are we to judge that they should be sent the bill? If we are that cold hearted we may as well not bother having the comfort of knowing there is a good chance we will be rescued in the event of an accident. Rescued by VOLUNTEERS who CARE about us enough to come out into the cold and give aid at a moment's notice with no thought to themselves. Not like you selfless people who slept away the evening in your nice warm homes and woke up just in time to find, oh ya, right on, one more thing you could sit back and condemn and complain about.
I can't imagine ANYONE would ever get lost in the cold and dark on purpose, and I am sure these kids are also very greatful that there was an S&R to help find them and that their greatfulness will show, perhaps the next time someone else is lost or perhaps by way of donation?? But don't you two worry about it, because I am sure you nor yours will EVER require the assistance of this fine dedicated organization.

I say, HATS OFF to our Prince George Search and Rescue, once again you were there as and when required...thank you.

I too am thankful for the great work Search and Rescue does.

My point is when you are an adult (two of the thee are) and you take risks, you should pay, financially, for the consequences.

Driving a vehicle (expecially recently) is risky, and we pay for that risk through insurance.

When a snowboarder intentionally chooses to take on additional risk by going out of bounds, they should pay for it. Search and rescue is a risky business, too, afterall.

A couple things to consider here. Our volunteers from both Mackenzie SAR and Prince George SAR were looking for these people because they are in need. That is the reason they go out there. We also have another great volunteer group around in Highway rescue. Again these guys go out when there is a need. And as volunteers they do not get paid but I do not feel they should be charged. Did they make a mistake? Maybe, or maybe not. We can not judge them. That is not our place. We should just support the people who are dedicated enough to help people in the time of need, whether it is SAR, Highway Rescue, or our Volunteer firefighters.

I really love the troupe of nincompoops on here. Does no one read, especially read thoroughly? Even whynotyou did not suggest that this out of bounds forey was unintentional even though he/she intimated that it was likely accidental rather than intentional.

First of all, it says they were FOUND!!!!! out of bounds. How many of you have ESP and know WHEN!!!! they went out of bounds???? or WHY!!! they were out of bounds.???

Almost every one of you, assumed they went out of bounds intentionally, otherwise those of you who did not state any of that aspect of your decision making about this event ought to have said so. No one did.

Most, if not all, of you would make lousy detectives or forensic researchers because you made up your minds BEFORE!!!! you knew the facts, rather than after.

At least bohemian did something that the writer of the article did not. He or she posted a link to another source of inforamtion about the same event.

If bohemian or anyone else would have read that link, they should have read this passage which those who read it obviously missed or were incapable of putting two and two together as a result of the important information it contained:
"Coldwell said the three indicated they became disoriented when fog conditions set in at the mountain Saturday." Maybe it is that none of you ever skied that mountain or in such conditions.

Whether this was true, or was an excuse, I do not know. I was not there. But at least we ought to accept the fact that since we really do not know all the information on which a decision should be made of whether they should be sent the bill or not should be a decision made by someone other than ANY of us, including me. Hopefully, it is by someone who knows how to make determinations such as that on unbiased information. These days, who knows!!!!

Professional help and conscientious help is extremely hard to find, especially people who can think objectively, act objectively and delve into details in a caring manner rather than making one assumption after another after another.

Now for the final little touch here. When did the fog set in? Did it set in when these people happened to be the last ones on the hill? Or did it set in before and the hill should have been closed 20 minutes earlier?

Again, I do not know. I was not there. Anyone on here know? Did anyone on here, or any reporter, or any searcher ask that question? I certainly do not know. What I do know, it is a question which needs to be asked before this thing is put to rest.

If the fog came in earlier, and other people on the hill encountered it and happened to be better equipped to deal with it, but would be able to confirm it, then the hill operators need to review their safety plans for such events, if they even have any for this type of event. We cannot expect people skiing groomed hills to have special expertise in outdoor orientation and survival. That has never been a requirement of skiing a commercial ski hill.