A couple of recent incidents have highlighted the dangers of walking in the mountains. 11 children and 3 adults had to be airlifted off Cadair Idris in a 2 hour rescue mission after they got lost in the dark. The party including the youngest child aged 8 and the eldest, 15, had set off up the mountain at around 11am last Wednesday. 10 hours later they got stuck on a slope while making their descent down the south side of Cadair which they had mistaken in the dark as the north side. To tackle such a walk with such young children and with so low a ratio of adults to children was described as foolish. They were also ill equipped and lacked the appropriate map reading skills.
They eventually had to be rescued by a helicopter from RAF Valley at a cost of £4,000. Seven of the party had to be winched off the ridge with the others diverted to flat ground where the helicopter could land.
Another lesson about mountain walking was illustrated by the story of a man from Stoke on Trent aged 32 who set off on his own up Tryfan after leaving his car at Ogwen Cottage campsite. He was reported missing last Monday and a land and air search was made on Tuesday and Wednesday trying to locate him. To date he has not been found. Walking alone is clearly very dangerous as this case shows and if you don't tell someone in detail where you are going then you may never be found if you get injured.
Two good points, well made.
ReplyDeleteThe first speaks volumes about the sheer stupidity of man and aside from expressing complete horror I will say no more.
The second, whilst potentially tragic, would seem to flatly state that "Walking alone is clearly very dangerous." It isn't. Or at least shouldn't be if, as you say, details are left with someone. Let's go a little further and say that accurate details of your route should be left with someone who understands them on a map (obvious I know, but vital) along with your departure time and a rough idea of completion time. And most important - STICK TO YOUR ROUTE. "That looks a pretty way over there" just isn't going to work!
Keep up the good work guys.