Into the hills-alone

[Highland Damsel]

A couple of weeks ago the alert was raised when a guy local to me, someone i knew, failed to return from a day on the hill. Nobody knew where he was and they had to search for his car for some time before knowing where to start looking. His body was found three days later. He was a member of the mountain rescue team.

This should be a wake up call to all of us. I have already tightened up on my lone woring procedures, we should always let someone know where and when, it's an often repeated message, i know but...

[big bill]

I agree 100% with you followed the story on North Tonight News it beggers belief that people are still endangering themselves and the rescue services by going into the hills without letting people know were they will be and expected time of arrival back. To me it is pure negligence and something should be done to stop this irresponsible behavour weathe may be fine at car park but once into the mountains and hills it can change for the worse

[seamusagleann]

i must admit i don't use my lone worker back up as much as i should , mostly when i'm on an atv or using powered pruners. maybe this is the warning i need .they are really good ,one minute passed the appointed time and they're on the phone. the fact that the guy was in a mountain rescue team gets the message across even more.

[stripee]

Don't start out on a long walk at lunch time It will be dark before getting back. I agree tell someone where you are going. Take a mobile phone, although taking one without thinking about the weather or time of day before starting out is asking alot of rescue services

[Ian Gray]

all good sound advise, problem is most people think it won't happen to them.
I include myself if I'm totally honest. Is it time to introduce some kind of
personal insurance cover. If you don't pay before you pay the whole cost
of the rescue after. At least this way the rescue services would get close
to the money they need to operate. Most people who venture outdoors
don't mind donating to the rescue services anyway so I can't see a problem
with it. What do you think.

Ian

[big bill]

In my opinion there should be some sort of recompense for the emergency service in this type of call out as its just pure stupidity to venture into the hills and mountains ill equipped and ill prepared for the conditions.
The attitude it will not happen to me is asking for trouble theres always the first time make them pay for their neglect and having to rely on their survival to voluntry people putting their necks online to save your skin.

[shirl]

I have always done alot of mountain / moorland walking on my own, if I am staying in a hotel I always sign the book saying which route I am taking and roughly how long I will be. If I do full days walk from home, I always let someone know where I am going & send them a text when I am back. Makes such good sense as you just never know. You have to be sensible and take the right equipment too, I have always got the usual survival items in my rucksack.

Shirl

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by Ian Gray

all good sound advise...... Is it time to introduce some kind of
personal insurance cover. If you don't pay before you pay the whole cost
of the rescue after..... Most people who venture outdoors
don't mind donating to the rescue services anyway so I can't see a problem
with it. What do you think.
Ian

I think in theory that's a good, sound idea but, and I'll add here I know next to nothing about mountain/hill walking, etc., I just wonder where the parameters would be? What would be considered taking too much of a risk? Of course those who wear shorts and t-shirt, sandles, go out despite bad weather forecast, have no map and get lost, etc should pay but where would it end, would those who go fully prepared - map, compass, appropriate clothing and who make a genuine wrong turn or get caught in unexpected weather conditions have to pay the same?
I just think it could end up getting messy. I'd be interested in other's opinions?

[Ian Gray]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

I think in theory that's a good, sound idea but, and I'll add here I know next to nothing about mountain/hill walking, etc., I just wonder where the parameters would be? What would be considered taking too much of a risk? Of course those who wear shorts and t-shirt, sandles, go out despite bad weather forecast, have no map and get lost, etc should pay but where would it end, would those who go fully prepared - map, compass, appropriate clothing and who make a genuine wrong turn or get caught in unexpected weather conditions have to pay the same?
I just think it could end up getting messy. I'd be interested in other's opinions?

people already spend a fortune on outdoor gear designed to protect them.
If there was an insurance policy you could take out before you venture out,
most people would class it as being an important part of that protection.
Those who don't can expect to pay after even if it's an unavoidable accident.

Ian

[richardkm]

As a former mountain rescue team member and search dog handler, I would hate to think that people were expected to pay anything towards the cost of rescue. Any rescue team member who complains about being called out for any reason whatsoever is not the right sort of person for the job - and I've met a few of them, ego trippers who are only there so they can boast about it in the pub!

My feeling about leaving details of where you are walking is alright up to a point, but it's not uncommon to find walkers getting into even more difficulty because they feel they MUST stick to their route rather than modify it in accordance with the prevailing conditions. It's essential to be flexible.