Hillwalkers and climbers braving the great outdoors are being urged to plan their walks and prepare for all eventualities, as Scottish mountain rescue teams in the North of Scotland report their busiest period on record.
In 2020, Police Scotland have recorded a 20 per cent increase in call-outs across the Highlands, North East and Tayside regions in comparison to any other year.
In Tayside, the team has deployed on 64 occasions since January, in the North East teams have deployed nearly 50 times, while teams in the Highlands have deployed on more than 210 occasions.
Sergeant Peter Lorrain-Smith, Police Scotland’s mountain rescue co-ordinator, said: “The North of Scotland is lucky to have some of the most beautiful hills and mountains in the country, and over the past few months we have experienced a significant increase in the number of people heading outdoors to enjoy themselves.
“By all means I do not want to put anyone off appreciating our great outdoors, however I must highlight just how crucial it is that you are prepared. Plan the route you are going to walk and consider whether it is safe to climb and if you have the ability to complete it safely.
"Also take sensible precautions and ensure you have suitable equipment, clothing and supplies. Unfortunately we continue to come across examples of people not being prepared for the walks or climbs they have embarked on, including people without maps, torches or basic survival gear, nor the skills and knowledge to use them.
"Many people have told us this is the first time they have ever hill-walked or climbed, and didn’t appreciate just how quickly conditions can turn.
Hillwalkers & climbers are being urged to plan and prepare for all eventualities as mountain rescue teams in the #North have recorded their busiest period on record.
— North East Police (@NorthEPolice) November 18, 2020
To read more and see the @ScottishMR #ThinkWINTER check-list visit 👉 https://t.co/pz8MN28wZx pic.twitter.com/aBlpEA2xQd
“Our message remains simple - come to the hills and mountains and enjoy them, but be prepared for all eventualities and don't go beyond your ability; preparation is the price of admission. Scottish mountains are by their very nature extremely unpredictable, therefore it is important that people take as many precautions as possible and plan ahead.”
Police Scotland’s mountain rescue teams continue to carry out vital training during as well as working alongside other mountain rescue teams in Scotland.
Sergeant Lorrain-Smith added: “I am extremely proud of the work that has been carried out by our teams and the partners we work with during this critical time to help those in need.
"I appreciate that getting outdoors is great for people’s well-being at this challenging time, however the well-being of our teams is also a priority for me and I can see the impact this increase in demand on our services is having, combined with the wider Covid-19 restrictions we all face.
“If you do find yourself in need of assistance because of being lost or injured then phone 999, ask for Police then Mountain Rescue. You will be helped however because of the current restrictions in place, it may take longer than normal for us to get to you.”
It comes ahead of Scottish Mountain Rescue's #ThinkWINTER campaign which is due to launch early December.
The #ThinkWINTER quick checklist includes:
• Check the mountain weather forecast – pay particular attention to wind speed, temperature and cloud cover.
• Take warm layers, waterproof clothing, hat, gloves and boots with good grip plus a headtorch with spare batteries.
• Pack plenty of food and drink to keep you going, plus some extra just in case.
• Build up your navigation skills and confidence with shorter, smaller days before taking on bigger hills and longer days.
• Be prepared to turn back if the weather or conditions change.
• Let someone know where you are going, what time you will be back and what to do if you don’t return when expected.
• If you are injured or lost and can’t get off the hill call 999 and ask for Police and Mountain Rescue.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here