Comments wide and varied on this one.
I did much of my early walking in Scotland whilst living down South and can agree that when you have made a trip to Scotland there is a desire to get it done no matter what (probably still carry that with me now, that’s part of the challenge I guess
). In my early trips we didn’t come in winter for starters, recognising from reading up, that it is a different game, but none the less ventured up whenever we could and at least one long weekend each year.
Prior to Scotland though, we had walked in the Lakes, Wales, England, covering all the ranges, done many of the long distance routes too, but Scotland was far away. It didn’t stop us, some trips were made with less than ideal vacation time. One such, leaving Friday night direct from work in London, to reach Glencoe by morning to do the AE. Day 1 was blowing a hoolie and was abandoned, Day 2 was meant to be journey home but dawned sunny and blue so off we went, finishing up eating at Bridge of Orchy at 2030 hrs at night due in London for 0800hrs work.
But back to topic. I don’t know if this guys experience was varied and to what level. For those of us that know the area and car park it seems ludicrous taken as it is.
But as ever hindsight from an armchair is easy. The skills and tools needed to safely navigate our wild lands are not expensive or hard to come by. I still find it incredible that anyone can get lost, and I’m not criticising here, its just that it really isn’t rocket science but how many practice it, on good days ? Same with winter skills, axe arrest etc. But I’ve been there myself.
But these factors don’t account for the state of mind. We have all been there, myself included and that includes being lost, had the skills to navigate but no amount of navigation will help you (I’m referring to pre GPS days) if you don’t know where you are in the first place.
Whilst not necessarily immediate panic, it doesn’t take long for anxiety to set in, with a rapid drop in moral, exhaustion both physical and mental. These are the enemies of rational thinking and very quickly a minor error can turn into an all out panic with the ensuing further bad decisions to make the news.
As with any sport or pastime involving an element of risk, the training, practice and experience are mostly not needed, but when something goes wrong, that is when it tells…not just the skills themselves but back to that state of mind again, being confident to ward off anxiety and/or panic because you know what to do, and can still do it when events are against you.
I have witnessed first hand on several occasions the onset of hypothermia, whilst it may not have been a factor in this incident, it could have been and quickly and it doesn’t need winter. From the first signs to death can be inside an hour ! The first signs we have possibly all experienced, no doubt without realising it, but the early signs can quickly develop to the stage where rational thinking goes out the window to a point where it is easier to just sit down and not go on. Once that kicks in, if on your own then it only needs the right combination of weather and it would be recovery not rescue.
Fortunately I have only encountered one such life/death situation myself, not hypothermia related but more a case of quickly going from the norm to giving up and letting myself go, all within the space of 3 minutes, simply because something inside triggers that it’s the only way to stop the panic and it’s the easier option. All down to a lack of confidence/experience in a given situation, and it was nearly my downfall.
I have had the police question me over being on the hills asking how could I navigate in such conditions,
my reply...I have GPS
Police: What if that fails ?
Me: I have compass and map
Police: What if you lose them ?
Me: I'm familiar with the terrain and the general directions for escape routes ?
etc etc. Failing all else I'll use the Force !
I felt like saying what if all four wheels on your police car fall off at the same time !!!!!
So, we can only conclude given the reported MRT comments this incident warranted criticism, my only thoughts from all I have said above and someone pointed out in relation to the car park when all is closed, and the fact that news reporting ….well enough said
But had we been reading about a body found at the Cairngorm car park that morning, views may be different.
