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Why why why oh why do rescue units even *RESPOND* to an unregistered beacon? I don't get it. Why even go?

I'm also seriously annoyed that he faces no charges.

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One stinking word: LIABILITY.
You could be sued by the ambulance chasing crowd if you didn't go looking for the moron and he dies out there. Or God forbid that he had just left the local McDonalds and had spilled his hot coffee on his lap during an avalanche. Luckily he had just activated his "avalanche beacon" but no one would respond and so he sues.

Trust me on this one, as a police officer we respond to every 911 call no matter what. People call 911 for nearly every thing you can think of and most all 911 calls are not even close to being emergencies.

-Skippy