text: Every time some hikers get lost or hurt and need to be rescued there's the usual complaining about the cost to taxpayers.  But nobody ever whines about all the swimmers, fishermen, boaters and surfers who have to get plucked out of the ocean on a regular basis.  Going out in the water is so dangerous there's even a permanent safety force dedicated to saving those people - the City and County lifeguards.   Yes, some of these hikers are nincompoops who are reckless or clueless.  But there are plenty of other people who do dumb things - like eat too much or drive carelessly - and then have to get government help.   The amount of your tax money spent rescuing hikers is a tiny fraction of the money spent on helping people with health problems due to poor eating habits, for example.