Two climbers rescued after getting lost on Mt. Hood Monday night said they will take a mountain locator unit with them next time, highlighting the ongoing debate about the devices.

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 Poll: Should MLUs be required?

Some lawmakers want the devices to be mandatory, to help search efforts.

The MLUs are about the size of a cell phone.

Last February, three climbers stranded on Mt. Hood activated their MLU and within hours, searchers found them.

KGW photo

Rescuers described the condtions as heavy snow, blowing sideways at times.

“This is a yearly event, every year some people are lost on the mountain and we have to do something about it,” said Rep. John Lim of Gresham.

Lim proposed such a bill last session. The “Beacon Bill” passed the House but died in the Senate. This year, he plans to reintroduce a modified version that would make professional mountaineers exempt.

“This is common sense bill,” he told KGW. “This is life saving bill this is saving money al good things for the people.”

But even some professionals oppose such a bill.

“It changes my decision process,” said Rocky Henderson, a team leader with Portland Mountain Rescue.

“There are all kinds of technology tools that make climbing safe or safer,” he added.

But he said, making it a law to wear one would be a dangerous move because it would give climbers a false sense of security.

“When the law says you shall have one there's the expectation there's going to be a rescue,” he explained.

Even though they are not mandatory, MLUs are still encouraged, especially in snowy conditions.