slatham
I think it is ridiculous to charge the grandsons with a crime. That's a stretch that will result in legal fees on both sides and IMHO will be overturned in court. They did not abandon him (which was how it was first, inaccurately, reported).
I have always believed that if you f-up and it cost money to save your ass, you get the bill. Clark seems to subscribe to this same view. Bill the guy and move on.
And one also has to consider what would have happened if he were hiking alone? Was he prepared enough as a solo hiker? Would the authorities have charged him with a legal violation for being ill-prepared (I assume a solo hike on Mt Washington is not against the law)? Would they have sent him the bill?
