Horse wrote: Sat Jan 04, 2025 7:33 pm
Noggin wrote: Sat Jan 04, 2025 7:08 pm
Horse wrote: Sat Jan 04, 2025 5:50 pm
Serious Q: who gets to decide what's acceptable?
Surely NOT hill walking in a blizzard is just common sense, no?? (probably add in not with the right kit or they wouldn't need rescuing)
And that's the challenge on making those decisions. You can do everything 'properly' and it could still go wrong.
"You're suffering serious chest pain, down your arms, up into your jaw? Before I can even consider dispatching mountain rescue, I need you to complete a short set of questions: are you an experienced hill walker, wearing clothing and footwear appropriate for the terrain and weather conditions? Do you have maps, GPS, and emergency equipment? Are you a silly billy for not going into town for a caramel latte? Hmmm ... well .... "
I think going out in weather that requires pro equipment but without that equipment is stupid. It deserves a slap or something. We all know it could all go wrong, but lets not suggest that going out in blizzard conditions and not fully equipped is remotely acceptable!! But people nowadays seem to feel they have no need to be responsible for themselves in any way. Maybe me and SLG are just old enough to remember when you were supposed to take some responsibility and not expect other people to sort you out when you can't be arsed to?
Horse wrote: Sat Jan 04, 2025 7:33 pm
Re the avalanche example, TBH I know half of bugger all about skiing and boarding. I wonder whether there are biking parallels? Such as blind bends, a bit quick, etc. Common sense [should] reminds us about stopping distances. But how many riders, for whatever reasons, run out of talent (whether decision making, self control, or technical skills). If they do, is it a self-inflicted event, so they shouldn't expect any emergency help?
It's not even running out of talent. It's more like "hey look, that road is closed, but I reckon other people have been down there today - how fast do we think can get to on it as it'll be empty" - then finding out that the reason the road is closed is that the bridge is broken and you don't quite have enough speed to make it to the other side but too much to stop. Maybe add in a lack of any protective gear??
Running out of talent is so very different to ignoring a piste closed/dangerous or road closed for work sign.
And as I've said before, I don't actually think that people shouldn't get emergency help - HOWEVER, I do think they should take some responsibility for not being total fukwits and putting the rescuers at risk.
I'm sure you can imagine how awful it would feel to be the guy that didn't find the 14 year old kid in time and dug out a dead kid?? Yes, they sign up to rescue people, but I'm sure most would expect people off piste to have the gear required - or not ignore the closed signs? (Actually, nowadays I suspect they are resigned to the fuckwittery

)