Celebrity, Calmity and a Call Out

Who’d of thought that whilst I type this Kate <rubs legs> Silverton would be sat in Pete’s Eats talking about her three peaks challenge. She hasn’t had an easy ride though as along with Phil ‘Help the Heroes’ Packer, attempted to summit Ben Nevis, but were turned back by Blizzard Conditions and Thong deep snow. Then onto Scafell, before on day three topping out on Snowdon after spending a night out camping, in -12 degrees according to Kates report on the BBC. (Funny, wasn’t forecast the minus 12!)

The attempt has been made for Sport Relief, and for me the sound mountaineering decision the team made like turning back on Ben Nevis, as well as the equipment they took on Snowdon, has show great judgement from their team.

It was great to hear Kate’s reaction to the question, when asked did she need ice axe and crampons on the summit of snow. Her answer, was one of “Hell Yeah”, although on live TV she did rescue her common talk and give an answer more suited to a news reporter on the 6 o’clock news. Anyway, congratulations to them.

Hopefully a few people will see the piece and realise that they need to be properly equipped on this mountain. Unlike a family, yes I did say that right a family, and their dog that were plucked off Clogwyn Coch after they got themselves in a potentially life threatening situation. The RAF managed to rescue both parents, two teenage children and fido.

I had mentioned Clogwyn Coch after last weekends initial two call out. So far all incidents have ended well, with everyone being returned to safely this year. I can’t help feel that the longer this freeze stays the more likely someone is to die on this notorious stretch of the Snowdon Railway, that basically leads you by the hand like John Venebles to your death.

It is a shame that basically those that have died here probably didn’t know the risk they were actually taking. It is a debate that will run and run, as to how best a rescue team, police, snowdonia national park or anyone that has an interest in reducing mountain accidents and fatalities, just how do you reach people who seem to never take heed or read any safety information.

In the words of an old school instructor I once met, “Its the risks that you don’t know your taking that are going to kill you”. Unfortunately people just don’t seem to realise that following the railway track down just isn’t the most sensible idea during the snowy season.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *