In the middle of the summer, volunteer rescuers across the Nevis Range warned that the large increase in the number of rescue call-outs is putting these volunteers under considerable strain.
It is good news, post pandemic, that so many people want to experience Scotland’s magnificent mountain grandeur. It is not good news that too many of them are ill-prepared for their adventures.
The mountain rescue teams cite poor equipment and, in some cases, inability to use the equipment they do have, lack of awareness of the changeability of mountain weather and poor fitness levels. They are rightly making a very strong plea for people to think carefully about their expeditions before they set off and to listen to the experts whether that be the Mountain Weather Information Service (www.mwis.org.uk), mountain guides or the advice issued by several key outdoor groups.
Regrettably accidents in the mountains do happen - even sometimes involving some of the most experienced mountaineers - but there is a lot we can each do to minimise the risks we take and ease the pressures on our rescue services.
Here are just some of the reminders: make sure you are carrying appropriate mountaineering clothing and spare kit – even on a warm day a casualty can very quickly lose heat, particularly in windy conditions or if it starts raining. If navigating by GPS/mobile phone, also carry a physical map and compass and know how to use them in case the technology fails. Carry a first aid kit, because help can often be hours, if not days, away if you have no signal to alert your location. Check the weather before setting off and be prepared to call off the hike if the forecast has changed to unsafe conditions such as strong wind. And study the map prior to ascending the mountain to ensure you are following a safe route which avoids crags and exposed sections as much as possible.
Mountain rescue teams in Scotland are outstanding. We are so lucky to have them especially as their financing is tight and their workload increasing. They often put themselves in danger in appalling conditions to help us. We must help them too.
