Sir Chris Bonington: 'there's an industry for rescuing people'. Photo: Bob Smith/grough
Mountaineering elder statesman Sir Chris Bonington has ruffled a few feathers after he was quoted in a national newspaper saying mountain rescue has almost become a ‘sport’ and an ‘industry’.
Interviewed by the Daily Telegraph’s arts correspondent Hannah Furness, the Everest summiteer said rivalry between teams trying to reach the same victim has become heated.
One team that was recently called out when 76 walkers went missing in the Lake District said the comments were disappointing.
Cumbrian resident Sir Chris was speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival. He told Ms Furness: “As far as this business of people relying on being rescued, and we see this in Britain a bit and you see it in the Alps.
“But in actual fact, there’s quite an industry actually for rescuing people. In Britain what is amazing is the mountain rescue teams are totally voluntary so they’re volunteers and they love doing it.
“Mountain rescue has almost become a sport in itself.”
He added: “I believe there has even been cases where there’s been a mountain rescue team from one valley and a mountain rescue team from another valley racing to get the person first. They’ve never quite got to fisticuffs but it’s got quite heated.”
Sir Chris said people should be encouraged to get out of the city and into the outdoors.
A spokesperson for Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team in Cumbria said on Facebook: “It’s both a little disappointing and frustrating when senior figures in UK mountaineering report in the press that they are ‘not worried about unprepared climbers needing to be rescued’.
“While the team actively encourages people to use the fells and mountains of the UK, we do our best not to criticise even when our patience is tested.
“We would like to encourage those venturing into the wilder parts of the UK to do so in a sensible and prepared manner.
“Patterdale and other rescue teams will always be there to help should you need us but we are at the end of the day volunteers. We all have day jobs, families and lives to lead outside of mountain rescue.
“We all love being part of the team but ever increasing demands on our time through fundraising, rescues and training does take its toll. This week alone I expect some members of the team will have spent well over 20 hours of their time on team business.
“Perhaps almost as much time in fact as those trying to publicise their new book or movie?”
Last month the Patterdale team turned out to a rescue to find a walking group’s leader enjoying a meal and a glass of wine in the pub while 76 of his party were unaccounted for on the fells.
A week later the Wasdale team was called out after a man was unable to make his way off the slopes of Scafell because he was incapacitated by cannabis and alcohol.
And this week Aberdyfi Search and Rescue Team pleaded with hillwalkers to realise they were responsible for their own safety after a couple were rescued when they got lost on Cadair Idris, without the necessary clothing, equipment or navigation skills.
grough contacted Mountain Rescue England and Wales for a comment but had not received a reply at the time of posting.
Freerange tourist.
13 October 2017He is quite right. MRT egos are an accident waiting to happen so some say.
outdoor enthusiast
13 October 2017Obviously freerange tourist isn't an mrt member and never encoutered what they do.
Nick Walker
13 October 2017Why do celebrated luvvies feel entitled to make cretinous comments - had the the utmost respect for him - but too stupid to try to defend
Richard Warren, Chair LDSAMRA
14 October 2017As regional chairman representing the Lake District teams I share the disappointment that a message has gone out which does not reflect the true picture of mountain Rescue. For those of us who regularly deal with the press, it comes as no surprise that what you say, although usually accurately reported, can readily be manipulated, taken out of context and portray a different message to the one you perhaps wanted expressed. I have responded to Sir Chris, reiterating my support for him as an ambassador for MR and someone who has done a tremendous amount of support for our volunteer service. I suspect he is also uncomfortable with the article. In my correspondence to Sir Chris I have highlighted the fact that within Mountain Rescue there is tremendous collaboration between teams with the sole aim of helping those who need our help. I have also asked that if the opportunity arises, the concept of ill preparedness having no place on the hill needs to be communicated more widely to reduce those growing avoidable rescues that all teams suffer from. We will always encourage walkers and climbers to get out there to enjoy the adventure, challenges and even risk but not to rely on a quick telephone call to get them out of trouble they could have avoided or dealt with themselves. For the avoidance of any doubt in your mind Bob (Editor grough), your articles have always been accurate, very balanced and respectful of our service and you have always given our organisation .the platform to correct any negative reporting in the nationals.
Jacob Mead
14 October 2017Shame that a self seeking publicist who has led a charmed life, putting dozens of Nepali porters lives at risk should critisize MRT's. A bit of competition between teams is no bad thing. They learn from one another, train together & it helps raise standards. As to racing after the same casualty he just doesn't get it, to search Scafel often requires the resources of 4 teams, working closely together. As to being a sport, there is enjoyment in it & camaraderie, but its at a cost, hours of training, cold wet sleepless nights & for many self employed team members thousands of pounds of lost income over the years. The very recent tragic loss of an MRT member while training is not the first. Bonnington just lost a few local friends.
Ian512
14 October 2017With "ever increasing demands on our time", why would Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team, "actively encourages people to use the fells and mountains"?
Bumble Bee
14 October 2017Ian512 ... because they - like all other MR teams - are made up of climbers and mountaineers. They are people who appreciate the pleasure and benefits to health and wellbeing from getting out into the mountains. MR Teams are an intrinsic part of a community of outdoor groups that are confident to encourage outdoor participation, to everybody, no matter your background.
Nevertheless, they (everyone really) need to encourage the development of just enough knowledge and personal responsibility to get out there safely, have a go, judge the risks, make the best decisions you can, and enjoy the challenges.
MR Teams are there when it doesn't go to plan, not to suppress people from taking part.
Ian512
15 October 2017Everyone and their granny seems to be in the business of 'promoting' mountaineering, why does it need promotion?
Back in the day even The Mountaineering Council for Scotland said it was not in the business of promoting mountaineering.
Bumble Bee
15 October 2017Aside the fact you've switched from the quoted term "encourage" to "promote"... What's wrong with promoting an amazing resource that is free to access.
Opening the doors to people who - for many reasons - might not see a chance to experience it; is that not a good thing?
Are you suggesting that those who - for example - are not born into a family of hill walkers shouldn't discover opportunities to experience the outdoors?
...presumably everything was better "back in the day".
Ian512
15 October 2017The meaning of encourage and promote are interchangeable in some cases - sorry if I switched.
Many people not 'born into a family of hillwalker' have discovered the hills.
If we promote mountaineering we must live with the resultant consequences, mistakes being made by people (encouraged to get out on the hills) who in many cases have clearly made little effort to learn necessary skills or gain the required experience.
Ooops, I switched again.
To paraphrase a recent poster on grough, "The hills must be dangerous if we need rescue teams."
(...presumably everything was better back in the day) well reading rescue items on grough it doesn't appear to be very healthy at present.
Richard
16 October 2017Statement of clarification from Chris Bonington issued 16/10/17: https://www.instagram.com/p/BaTcpYJhhek/?taken-by=chrisbonington