In reply to Mick Ryan - UKClimbing.com:
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> Are those who are rescued/escorted off, due to inadequate clothing/skills interviewed after the rescue?
All people we (LLMRT) rescued are interviewed, about what happened, what they did right or wrong. However all rescue team try to be 'none judgemental'. It is often little more than haven't you been silly kind of a chat.
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> Why are these people going up in the hills ill prepared. Is it ignorance?
There is a great amount of ignorance to the mountains these days, with a lot of people believing that if they get into trouble they will be bailed out by RAF helicopter or a rescue team. They also look at the UK mountains as a non-serious place. Also there was a famously bad article in one magazine that once describe Crib Coch as an easy walk!
Also there is a big difference in what you and I might think of as appropriate for winter walking and what other less experienced people think is appropriate. In fact you and I might go up the hill in Jeans and trainers, but we might know the route, and our ability. For someone that doesn't it can be just another factor that adds up to disaster, as it is often never one thing that triggers a accident or incident, often when you hear the whole story its like an episode of casualty, you just know something bad was inenvitably going to happen.
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> Is anything being done as regards education - particularly at parking areas, trailheads, local accommodation, cafes, climbing/outdoor shops.... to warn people of the dangers.
The have been small sign and poster in various parking areas for a while now. There are even some leaflets that the Llanberis Mountain rescue Team, put together and paid for the printing of, on the accident black spots and winter safety. Last year the North Wales Police ran a free intro to navigation day, ironically they advertised it locally, so that our biggest demographic (people from the south east are statistically more likely to need rescuing) was not aware of the days. I am not sure what the up take was, but I did get an email from the police asking if I would volunteer to help run the course!
Education is a key factor in these preventing incidents, however MR teams spend enough time rescuing without taking on the added burden of educating people as well. there are many centres and instructors who will provide this training for a fee. As someone who makes a living (well of sorts) from instructing, I would be quite pissed off if rescue teams started undercutting us because they staff there courses with volunteers.
Anyway, Happy New Year Mick