I disagree. With the practicalities (although agree with the sentiment)
My wife and I regularly go fell walking in the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales. We are always well equipped and would never set off without checking weather conditions first.
The problem with high level fell walking is that the conditions can change in an instant - often just due to localised anomalies, and it is here that many people are caught out, and need to be rescued.
Whilst walking on Snowdon last year we watched a full rescue take place in brilliant sunshine on a windless day. Someone had fallen off a small cliff and broken their leg. There is no way I would have walked in the area that they had done, but who am I to say whether they were within their limits, and simply just had bad luck or a moments lapse of concentration?
Of course, there are total idiots who set off up onto the high fells in training shoes and 'pac a macs' on days when no sensible person would do. It is right to condemn them and give their lunacy all the publicity it deserves. But to charge people for being rescued? - I don't think so.
Personally, as a keen walker I contribute to the local Mountain rescue teams whenever I can. The start and finish points of many walks have donation boxes for this purpose. It doesn't cover their costs, but they keep going somehow - mostly through dedication, a love of the hills etc and a willingness to provide their services.
If people were charged for rescues how would the determination of 'fault' be arrived at? Getting yourself in the do da in the great outdoors is a 'moveable feast' - too old, too fat, too stupid - what's the criterion? Therein lays the problem.
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