Following the report of hillwalkers lost in the Ben Macdui area of the Cairngorms on Monday night, Grampian Police wish to take this opportunity to bring to hillwalkers' attention the need for parties to have the correct level of skill and equipment, particularly with regards to navigation.
Over the past four nights (Friday to Monday), both Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team and the joint Grampian Police/Braemar Mountain Rescue Team, supported by colleagues from the Search and Rescue Dog Association, Aberdeen Mountain Rescue and Royal Navy Search and Rescue helicopter from Prestwick have collectively responded to four separate incidents within the Cairngorms.
The 18 individuals involved all appear to have been attempting to navigate within the Cairngorms using smartphone-type technology.
Whilst all were traced safe and well, it is disappointing to both the police and the mountain rescue teams that there appeared to be a complete reliance on a navigation technology which we would consider unsuitable for the terrain these groups are traversing.
Chief Inspector Andrew Todd, co-ordinator of mountain rescue in Grampian, said:
I have been involved in mountain rescue for nearly 20 years and, whilst technology can and does play an important part in raising the alarm or assisting navigation, it appears we may be about to witness a marked increase in the complete reliance of smartphone apps to navigate some of the UK's highest mountains.What is particularly concerning is that the individuals who are relying on this apparently inappropriate technology often do not possess even rudimentary mountain navigation skills.
This is putting their lives at risk, and whilst Scotland's mountains are there for all to enjoy, there is a personal responsibility on those who venture into the mountains to do so only when properly equipped and skilled.
This same plea was since been echoed by Northern Constabulary.
The key word for us in the quote above was "complete". We love technology here at WalkLakes. We've got GPS, we've got smart phones, we've even got a PLB ... but we always have a map and a compass and we know how to use them. And we've always got a torch in our rucksack, even when we've no intention of coming home in the dark.
The mountain rescue teams around the country are all volunteers: let's try to all make their jobs a little easier. Please.
We've got some hints and tips here if you're new to hill walking.
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