Mountain Safety Seminar halted three times for real rescues
A recent weekend seminar on the subject of mountain safety on Britain’s highest mountain had to be interrupted three times to allow delegates to take part in real rescues.
The event, held in March, was sponsored by the Nevis Partnership to highlight the particular groups that seem to be at risk on Ben Nevis, which is climbed by around 100,000 people each year. Rescues on the hill account for 18% of all mountain rescues in Scotland. In winter the majority of those rescued are young male climbers, whereas most of the July and August rescues are young women. Improvements in clothing are believed to be behind the fact that far fewer of those rescued have dangerously low body temperatures when they reach hospital.
The Nevis Partnership is made up of Highland Council, SNH, John Muir Trust, Glen Nevis Residents Association, Inverlochy and Torlundy Community Council, Fort William Community Council, Lochaber Mountain Access Group, British Alcan, Glen Nevis Estates and Forestry Commission Scotland.