& - Friday, July 11, 19880 - North Shore News helpful _to tourists Dear baditor: So often we are reads te ciitiize shen someony does net treat as as we feel thes should. bur do nat thank peeple who help as. Io would dike to express my ip precittion for the patience, MOUNT HOCD TRAGEDY Rock climbers must be educated and prepared Dear Editor: We should not det the recent tragedy on Mount Hood — in which eight young climbers died -- pass without stopping ¢o learn an important lesson, The lesson is that mountains continue to produce a wide variety of conditions which can be life threaten- ing to unprepared tcavellers. The ultimate tragedy is that such accidents can be easily prepared for and usually survived. Much of the media coverage of the event refers toa “sudden, fierce snow storm'’ as if it somehow ex- plained the deaths. Such storms are to be expected in spring climbing, and there are well established ways to keep them fron: being fatal. These include: (1) a basic inventory of protective clothing and = safety equipment carried by each climber, (2) knowledge of the early warning signals of “sudden” storms, and (3) methods of constructing snow shecters that enable climbers to live fairly com- fortably through several days of storm. Everyone knows that risk is part of mountain clim- bing. Most can appreciate that basic training enables climbers to reduce risk to acceptable levels, allowing Taxpayer protests school cost increase Dear Editor: I note the continuing vocifer- ousness and stridency of the various bodies concerned with the 1986-87 school budget for School District No. 45, West Vancouver. The Corporation of the District of West Vancouver provides effi- cient and wide embracing services to 37,077 peaple in West Van- couver out of a municipal operating costs budget from net taxes of $18.9 million. The school budget, for only 4,949 pupils in School District 45, West Vancouver, is the large sum from net taxes of $8.7 million. Surely there is something gravely out of balance between the above monetary figures and the number mountaineering to be an ecgoyable and sporting activ- ity. A recent trend bas been for people to venture fur- ther into the back-country year round. Fortunately, as more people have taken to the mountains in Canada, knowledge of visk reduction seems to be keeping pace, so that per capita death, injury, and number of inci- dents have decreased during the past few years. In British Columbia a major effort in meuntaineer- ing education has been undertaken by the Federation of Mountain Clubs of British Columbia. Over the past five years this effort has expanded so that 19 different courses ins summer and winter mountaineering are now available to the outdoor enthusiast in B.C. Dur- ing the 1985 season 658 participants took part in 61 courses held throughout the province. This kind of education is essential if people are to enjoy the outdoors without repeating the suffering that took place on Mount Hood. Jim Rutter Executive Director Federation of Mountain Clubs of British Columbia, Vancouver owing 20re Tun. The best place to visit for all kinds of insurance at the right price. When you're away from home, you want to be able to enjoy yourself, without worry. That's why it's not only convenient and economical to arrange your travel insurance needs at VanCity Insurance Services — it’s relaxing, too. Because you know you and your loved ones will be protected. As your agent, dealing with various insurance com- panies, we help you determine your best protection package, at a competitive price. 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