Over 300 mountain rescuers will descend on Aviemore in September for their bi-ennial gathering. The conference, which will take place from 12th to 14th September, will see team members from across the United Kingdom and Ireland take part in workshops, practice essential skills, and talk about the future of mountain rescue in Britain. Speakers include the climber Andy Kirkpatrick and delegates will also get the chance to climb with Lochaber-based climbing whizz, Dave Macleod. The following promotional film has been made to highlight the event.
Conference Chairman Jonathan Hart said, “We’re delighted with progress to date. We’re on target for our goal of having 300 volunteers from across the UK and Ireland attend the event, we’ve been supported by a range of UK and Scottish businesses and charities helping us to raise the necessary funds to subsidise costs for hosting this important event. We’re especially delighted to have significant sponsorship and commitment to exhibit from a large number of outdoor businesses and supporters including Keela and St John Scotland who are Platinum Sponsors and Paramo and ISC Wales who are Gold sponsors. There are many other organisations that have supported the event by committing to exhibiting their products and services and the exhibitor’s hall will be a busy bustling place with lots of great kit to see and discuss. Scottish Mountain Rescue looks forward to welcoming everybody to Aviemore and the glorious Scottish Highlands.”
The conference will take place in the MacDonald’s Aviemore resort over the weekend of 12-14 September and lead organizer Martin McCallum added “We have a lot of really great workshops planned covering areas from searching to technical rescue skills, water rescue, medical practices, and the human element of rescues and have managed to assemble a world class team, including leading climber Dave MacLeod, to deliver these; we are really looking forward to a very special event which of course wouldn’t be complete without a Gala dinner and Ceilidh on the Saturday night.”
The conference will kick off on Friday night with a lecture from world famous extreme climber Andy Kirkpatrick. This event is open to members of the public, conference delegates and non-delegates alike. Tickets will be available on the door for £10. Martin McCallum commented, “for anyone who has not seen Andy Kirkpatrick talk: when on stage Andy is more like a stand up comedian who happens to climb. An extremely funny man who does extremely difficult climbs in wild and remote parts of the world. Should be a great event, and there will be an opportunity for everyone who attends to visit the conference exhibition hall at the break.”