New Kit Doesn't Make You A Mountain Expert
You might have the same technical underwear as Chris Bonington, but that won't magically endow you with his winter mountaineering skills is the warning from experts...
Posted: 2 January 2004
by Jon
There's a new addition to the post-Christmas gift list next to 'a
dog is for life' - Snowdonian mountain rescue teams are warning
people to be wary of winter weather in the hills and, in particular,
not to think that spangly new Christmas gear will turn them into
experts overnight.
Snowdon warden Sam Roberts is quoted as saying: "Just because
Father Christmas brought you the same equipment that Chris Bonington
used to climb Everest, that doesn't mean that you won't come unstuck
going up Snowdon."
He conceded that many of the 2,000-odd walkers and climbers who
visit the North Wales national park every day do have the necessary
skills to match their equipment, but warned that some do not and
there are still frequent incidences of walkers wearing only trainers
in conditions where crampons and ice axes were more suitable.
Meanwhile Chris Bonington must be wondering how Santa got hold of
his old kit and several mountaineers are probably a little bemused by
the beaten-up old Berghaus technical jacket they found in their
Christmas stocking...
Fair point though, be careful out there and don't underestimate
winter conditions. Have a great but safe weekend.
Full article from BBCi Wales here.
Discuss this story
I've been found out! That's my whole mountaineering phlosophy in ruins!!!
Posted: 02/01/2004 at 08:55
I read that, and thought "Oh my god, who ARE these people that need to be told this sort of thing". But thinking some more about it - if they've got no experience of mountain weather and conditions, it doesn't mean they wont want to "take a stroll" up snowdon is there? Si
Posted: 02/01/2004 at 09:13
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