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Author Topic: Feasts,down pours & rescue's  (Read 35293 times)

Pudd

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Re: Feasts,down pours & rescue's
« Reply #15 on: August 20, 2012 »
I am not one who goes on hindsight, though Mourneman, think of the other.  If you hadn't have dialed for assistance how bad could it have been?  A search and rescue operation, maybe even worse?

I am sure many of us look upon you as experienced (which I definitely do myself - well jealous that you get the opportunity multiple times a week to travel in the Mournes) therefore it shows us that it is okay when the going gets tough and serious to ask for a little help. 

Think of it this way, if you didn't post this up a few members could be up there at the second in difficulty and risking their own lives without realising that phoning for assistance is a good thing rather than something that feels pride pricking. 

But you have definitely turned my views around - even the most experienced can find themselves in trouble, and I am glad that you have shown the community that asking for help is okay.

Though do not let this be a set back to you, rather than a learning experience and get back out there.  The last thing I want to to hear is that you are stopping your weekly blogs. 

Karma to you for doing the right thing and that everything is okay. 
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LandyLiam

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Re: Feasts,down pours & rescue's
« Reply #16 on: August 20, 2012 »
As you've gathered I was there that night, weather was indeed wild, although by the time i got into the hills the torrential rain had passed and i was lower down so had some shelter from the wind, but i still got soaked through my goretex/event to the skin. The little streams i had bounced over many times before were now knee deep, and the there was the glen river to pass, there was approx 9 inches of water over the stepping stones, certainly passable with care, but only if you had a good torch, and John had lost his. I reckon anyone who tried to cross that in the dark (assuming they could make it that far down those steep steps) would never have been able to see the stepping stones and would have ended at least waist deep in fast flowing cold water, not a place you want to be! John made the right call (it was the rescue teams decision to go out, not Johns), the risk of things going very wrong was high, and that would have resulted in a prolonged search in awful conditions, and if not found in time a great risk of severe hypothermia (which leads to death!).

John started out the day well with the right intentions and the right gear, a combination of things went wrong, we cannot plan for every occurence (if we did we would bring a tent on every trip). An unfortunate set of occurences led to him being late and losing his torch. He was able to provide an accurate location, he had his whistle and used it effectively (it great to hear that whistle when you are searching) and this resulted in a speedy rescue, no helicopters where needed (not that they would have flown that night anyway!), so well done John on ensuring you and your buddy got home safe and not letting pride prevent you doing the right thing (probably the downfall of many a mountaineer) and i'm very happy to have been able to help you in your hour of need :) )

Now you know i like to take a few pictures, but that night was so bad the camera was only briefly taken out twice, and these were the best shots i could get.


the flare going off



crossing the glen river, easy when you have a big torch, i had the led lenser x21 xtreme (1000 lumens!!)
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LandyLiam

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Re: Feasts,down pours & rescue's
« Reply #17 on: August 20, 2012 »


Quote


ed at my folk's house 1am,of course we needed a feed

worth noting that "top of the town" chippy in Newcastle is opened til 2.30am  ;)
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Daithi2004

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Re: Feasts,down pours & rescue's
« Reply #18 on: August 20, 2012 »
A good call was made by John and a good job was made by MMRT. Everyone is a winner so, John, we hope to see you on the hills and also read about them. All the best.
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Mourneman

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Re: Feasts,down pours & rescue's
« Reply #19 on: August 20, 2012 »
Thank's very much for you're support everyone,sometimes the right thing to do is not always the easiest ! I'am heading back into the Mourne's tomorrow,only this time i'am bringing my very own MMRT member Liam  ::)  ;D
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twentyclicks

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Re: Feasts,down pours & rescue's
« Reply #20 on: August 20, 2012 »
Good write up John. A real wake-up call/reminder to all of us (and an example to tell any friends we are introducing to the hills), especially when I'm travelling light or packing my bag in a hurry. I'm thinking how often recently I've forgotten my hat and gloves, or a spare set of batteries for the head-torch. Would just take me to get a cramp and be delayed to be in the same situation. Thanks for sharing.

Glad you are safe... now get back out there  :D
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LandyLiam

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Re: Feasts,down pours & rescue's
« Reply #21 on: August 20, 2012 »
Quote from: Mourneman on August 20, 2012
Thank's very much for you're support everyone,sometimes the right thing to do is not always the easiest ! I'am heading back into the Mourne's tomorrow,only this time i'am bringing my very own MMRT member Liam  ::)  ;D

remember i'm still in training and not much use without the team, and did you spot the heavy rain warning for tomorrow  :o  could be your groundhog day  8)  i'm bringing 3 torches, bothy bag & gpsr  ;)
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phil_b

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Re: Feasts,down pours & rescue's
« Reply #22 on: August 20, 2012 »
As someone who is new to walking in the Mournes having only been to the summit of Donard and Commedagh once each, this has been a real eye opener for me and i am glad you shared the experience on this forum. The 2 times i have been up there the sun has been out most of the way up and down and i hadn't given much thought to how badly wrong things can go. Thankyou and glad to hear you got out of the situation ok.

Phil
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Kayakgirl

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Re: Feasts,down pours & rescue's
« Reply #23 on: August 20, 2012 »
Glad you are safe MM, Don't let your bad experience get the better of you.. Life always puts up challenges for us, it would be boring if it didn't. It is certainly a learning curve for us all..
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Rumblebum

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Re: Feasts,down pours & rescue's
« Reply #24 on: August 21, 2012 »
Im glad that you all got down ok guys, it could happen and still can to any of us NI wilders.

All you need to do now is write a book about it and youl be minted. :)
« Last Edit: August 21, 2012 by Rumblebum »
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LandyLiam

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Re: Feasts,down pours & rescue's
« Reply #25 on: August 22, 2012 »
Quote
t could happen and still can to any of us NI wilders.
so who will be next  8)  probably me   :o
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Mourneman

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Re: Feasts,down pours & rescue's
« Reply #26 on: August 22, 2012 »
Quote from: LandyLiam on August 22, 2012
Quote
t could happen and still can to any of us NI wilders.
so who will be next  8)  probably me   :o

We'll I sorta own you one  ::)
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dean1970

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Re: Feasts,down pours & rescue's
« Reply #27 on: August 22, 2012 »
This is an example of inexperience, poor planning and just basically not being prepared.
I see it everytime I am up there.

Sorry, I think I am the only one here prepared to criticise. Personally, I think you just got a little to confident and complacency set in.

I am very happy you got down and were ok. Lesson learned.
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Rumblebum

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Re: Feasts,down pours & rescue's
« Reply #28 on: August 22, 2012 »
Quote from: dean1970 on August 22, 2012
This is an example of inexperience, poor planning and just basically not being prepared.
I see it everytime I am up there.

Sorry, I think I am the only one here prepared to criticise. Personally, I think you just got a little to confident and complacency set in.

I am very happy you got down and were ok. Lesson learned.
Without getting into a massive debate with you Dean, I gotta disagree with you on this one.

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Ed

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Re: Feasts,down pours & rescue's
« Reply #29 on: August 22, 2012 »
Quote from: dean1970 on August 22, 2012
This is an example of inexperience, poor planning and just basically not being prepared.
I see it everytime I am up there.

Sorry, I think I am the only one here prepared to criticise. Personally, I think you just got a little to confident and complacency set in.

I am very happy you got down and were ok. Lesson learned.


I don't feel you are prepared (or placed) to criticise Dean, because put simply - you weren't there.
Inclined to criticise might be better phrasing.

I have no problem with criticism, when it's warranted - but given that we were already heading back when the bad weather moved in, I don't see how overconfidence and complacency enters into it. It's not like we sat around and watched the weather get worse, while it did significantly slow our progress.

Regarding the lost head torches, they were _probably_ lost during the crossing of the kilkeel river, which was quite a jump, but I'm not sure. On any other day the loss would have been a lot less painful, but unfortunately they were lost on a day where they were very much needed.

If anyone can put their hand up and tell me they have never lost a piece of gear in the hills and never will - and / or that they always carry a spare headtorch separate to their main one, even on day trips - Sure - I'll accept that the loss of the torch was inexperience rather than ill timed misfortune.

The rivers were quite badly swollen - even a member of the MMRT slipped while crossing - and would have fell in were it not for John behind them.  Were we indeed complacent, we might have sauntered down in the dark and tried to cross the river on our own, which could well have added injury to the situation the MMRT were presented with - or worse.

I'll accept we were not fully prepared with a bothy shelter, which would have resolved the situation. I now have one and will take it on future trips. To the best of my knowledge however, it's not just inexperienced or arrogant walkers who head out for a day trip without one. (Things started to turn at around 5PM IIRC, 3.5hrs before sunset - more than enough time to get back were it not for the severe inclement weather which presented itself when we were already well underway)

To put it frankly, the only people I'd be prepared to accept a telling off from regarding this are John and the MMRT.

If you want to indulge in some posturing on a scenario you weren't even involved in you're entitled to your opinion, but equally I'm entitled to tell you to get bent.

A
« Last Edit: August 22, 2012 by Aragorn »
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