gman wrote:When exactly was this golden era of self-reliant mountaineering experts on the hills? I know a few guys who hitchhiked to Arrochar and Glencoe in the 50s and 60s, they'll gladly tell you how clueless they were when they started out. Must have been before then?
I totally agree but I think the difference before mobile phones was that you had no option but to get yourself off the hill or sit it out in the hope help arrived, whereas now people know they have the option to phone for help (signal dependant of course) and some maybe factor that in to what they get up to.
MRT even recommend you take a fully charged phone just in case, because it is a great assist for them in pinpointing your position and getting you off the hill or even just talking you down.
But yes people always did daft things and were underprepared, probably even more so way back, but there would have been more of a feeling of being on your own and in charge of your own survival - if that makes any sense.