Choosing your risk level and working within it isn't stupid. Not knowing the risk when it's easy to gather some more info and then acting in ignorance is, which is what GP was describing, and likely why they called their own actions stupid.

At that time, we had no kids & no pets, nobody directly dependent on us. That figured in our conversation on the drive to Hilo. Nowdays, we might come to a different conclusion, but I'm glad for the path we chose then.

it's all whimsy and adventure -- but the reality is that you're not just risking your own lives but also the lives of potential rescuers.

just food for thought. I'm not about to say one should lead a safe and sterile life, but there is more to it than direct dependents.

Though rescuers did consciously choose that role and that they’d be saving ignorant people very often

Doesn’t mean you need to add more opportunities for people to get hurt or killed when you know better.

I wonder if, if you'd talk to a rescuer, they'd agree...

source: i worked on an ambulance

Heh well, that's a good source. Any idea if all your colleagues thought the same?

doctors choose their jobs too and they generally encourage people to stay out of the ER

That's completely irrelevant. Rescuers can encourage people to be safe, that's expected. they chose that job , despite it's dangers, because they care about those people being safe.

They know the danger and chose the job. That's the relevant bit.

I think you missed their point - just because you choose a job doesn’t mean people shouldn’t try to avoid needing to be rescued in the first place

Especially since that path didn’t collapse ;)