The organisation representing mountaineers and climbers in Scotland has issued its annual report for 2011. In it, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) celebrates the lowest annual number of mountain rescue incidents but raises concerns about the future for wild landscape, particularly the issue of windfarms. The report has been published ahead of the organisation’s Annual General Meeting in Dunblane on Saturday 3rd September.
The 2011 report highlights successes in the following areas:
– Membership growth to over 11,000.
– A record 1,379 people attended MCofS courses and lectures as a result of the Mountain Safety Programme.
– Scottish athletes made up almost 50% of the Great Britain sport climbing youth team.
– Pressure from the MCofS Hill Tracks Campaign resulted in a government consultation.
– The MCofS achieved the Foundation Level of the Equity Standard for Sport.
In his report outgoing President, Chris Townsend, highlights challenges facing the MCofS including the importance of protecting access rights and addressing the threat to mountain landscapes from wind farm developments.
MCofS Chief Officer David Gibson said: “We achieved success in key areas but like many volunteer-led organisations we face a challenging future; representing our members’ interests, promoting self-reliance in the mountains, and developing and supporting Scottish climbing talent continue to be our key priorities.”
MCofS Mountain Safety Adviser Heather Morning said: “The MCofS has communicated its mountain safety message to a record number of people in the same year as mountain rescue incidents in Scotland fell to a 30 year low. We can’t prove a correlation between the two, but the MCofS is dedicated to making a significant contribution to skills and self-reliance in the mountains. We believe that our work will help to reduce mountaineering incidents.”
For more information about supporting or joining the MCofS and for details of the AGM weekend visit the MCofS website.