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Jon Takata of Thornton writes:

The Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News are filled with the disappearance and search for Steve Fossett. The search has cost the United States thousands and increasing each day. Fossett was reportedly looking for dry lake beds where he could try for the land speed record - this was again for his own personal glory. So much of Steve Fossett’s adventure are just self serving and will cost the government so much in search expenses.
Steve Fossett’s disappearance and search reminds me so much of Amelia Earhart and her “Search For Modern Feminisim” when she disappeared in the late thirties in the Pacific. The search for Amelia involved the Air Force and Navy searching the vast Pacific without success. The search efforts for Amelia is estimated to have cost untold millions. Again, this adventure was for glory for her and the feminists of her time.
Why do we go spend the efforts of many and the high costs to find those that are only seeking glory and adventure for themselves. Lets require these people to sign a disclaimer for any searches should they disappear, I’m sure that they would be glad to do so.

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

How clever -- taking the Steve Fossett story to get in a couple of jabs at feminism.

Want to know one reason why the US is in decline? 70 years ago Amelia Earhart was a national hero and respected as such. Today we have people writing letters to the editors showing off their penis envy for anyone who has more money, more fame or just led a more interesting life than themselves.

Okay, I wouldn't compare the situation with Amelia Earhart to this one with Steve... but suffice it to say that i DO, in fact, agree that it is time we let this one go. We shouldn't be footing the bill to look for someone who made the choice.... of his own free-will, to go flying off without bothering to file a flight plan. I find it reprehensible, to say the least.

Sheila, would you say the same thing about the average hiker that gets lost in the mountains? Or someone in your immediate family that gets lost?

Perhaps Steve Fossett will be able to reimburse the cost of the search (if he is still alive).

As for Amelia, papers have been released that indicate she may have been on a secret mission (scouting/spying) on the Japanese prior to WWII. Also at that time she was a pioneer in flight, not just on behalf of women but on that of aviation. A vast differance from Steve Fossett who self admited he was looking for glory.

In answer to your question: Yes, I would say the same thing to the 'average hiker' if said 'average hiker' decided to go off, on their own, without letting anyone know where they are headed.

As to my loved ones: I am not worried about my family members doing something as stupid as this. We talk about these kinds of things and all agree that it is irresponsibile to go to certain locations without guidance and backup. I love to hike. I do it all the time, but you can rest assured that I let people know where i'll be and my estimated time of return.

Re: average hiker...for the average angler (and I assume hunter) when you pay for your annual license some of that $ goes into a fund for search and rescue, so there is some spread cost among the potential cost-causers, although you don't know for sure you'll be one in need of rescue any given year. And strange things happen in the woods, which is why we enjoy them so much, so no amount of precautions can guarantee you won't wind up in trouble (though precautions might well keep you alive long enough for help to find you).

This story about Fosset looking for a place to set a speed record does not make sense. There are two tracks, one 13 miles long in Cali. and the most famous Bonniville Salt Flats at 26 miles long. Why would he need more?
I believe he wanted to disapear. He could have done his search from a computer with Google Earth.

Steve Fossett has probably paid more taxes than every blogger on the RMN site combined. Not to mention his contributions to general aviation and the American pioneering and adventuring spirit. Its hard to believe that anyone would begrudge him the effort to try and find him - if he is in fact lost or dead. The petty jealousy and envy of some people today is truly embarassing. Geo is right, we used to celebrate people like Fossett as national heroes. What the hell happened? Instead of Fossett being on the front pages and leading every news story we have the tarts, tramps, rappers, doped up athletes, and every manner of freak show as well as the Hollywood crowd. Sad. Damn sad.

Thankyou for the honesty in your reply Sheila. I just hope that nothing happens when you are enjoying you outings. Accidents happen is what I am saying in that hikers trip , twist ankles ect. Therefore they do not make their itineray. My point being that one would not want to have hope pulled out from under them after so much time.

I also have no tolerance for those who expect to be found and think it is a right/entitlement that these services drop everything to come find them.

Thankyou for the honesty in your reply Sheila. I just hope that nothing happens when you are enjoying you outings. Accidents happen is what I am saying in that hikers trip , twist ankles ect. Therefore they do not make their itineray. My point being that one would not want to have hope pulled out from under them after so much time.

I also have no tolerance for those who expect to be found and think it is a right/entitlement that these services drop everything to come find them.

It is quite legitimate for someone to bring up the issue of how much money to devote to searching for someone like Steve Fossett and to also voice an opinion about the quality of Fossett's endeavors.

The searchers have found 6 old crash sites. But I think this is hopeless.

Sharon's point is exactly why i am AGAINST the search for Fossett. Where the hell were all the searchers and the money when THEY went missing? No one bothered to look for them. Why? Because they weren't as 'important'. Well, poo on that idea.

Sheila, those sites are real old. We didn`t have the technology then or now to find them. This was accidental.

This keeps up, they will find Elvis and Amellia.

Elvis is most certainly dead. I knew that the day Michael Jackson married little Marie Presley. There t'aint no way Elvis would have let that go unnoticed.

Check the brothels in Nevada.

Back in the mid nineties,I was working as a sous chef at a high buck restaurant in Cherry Creek. Fossett came in with a large group that had alot of special orders. It was a Friday night,right before closing time,the dining room was full,and the kitchen wasn't digging it.

Being the customer is always right, we hustled the food out in record time.

Before leaving,Fossett came back into the kitchen,shook each of our hands and thanked us for accommodating their special requests.He then flipped every guy in the kitchen a 100 dollar bill,even the dishwasher.He did the same for the front of the house.

Now I know him dishing out C-notes is like pennies to you and me but the sincerity in his thanks was real and genuine.

I hope they find him alive.

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