The backcountry is a formidable, harsh place that doesn't give any real second chances. If things go wrong, they tend to go wrong in big ways. And it pays no mind to fools and those experienced alike. Its nature, and nature doesn't care about who you are or what you've done. It just is.
And while it's awesome to have the best gear, or access to the outside world via a satellite communicator like my always with me Garmin inReach, you still have to get out of the precarious situation, one that's likely life-threatening, still. In that situation, you're pressing the SOS button and hoping that the outside world will not only be able to save you, but also find you fairly quickly.
That requires trained, professional guides and Search and Rescue. But that rapid response costs a ton of money. Not just to compensate the folks involved, but gas for trucks or side-by-sides, and also helicopters and more. And Colorado, one of the biggest outdoor communities in the nation, wants folks who recreate on public lands to chip in a little more to help cover those situations.
