Do you get these kind of tourists over on your side of the drink?

[FishyFolk]

The Norwegian Red Cross Rescue Services, a Norwegian Air Force SAR helicopter, and the civil defence force has been out today searching for a couple of German tourists. The SAME pair was rescued by the NRCRS yesterday, in the same area. But these numpties went straight back into the woods and promptly was reported lost again, whhen they did not report back to their group.

The pair did not carry map and compass, but where on a clearly marked trail!

You'd think that getting lost the first day, would clue them in enough for them to procure a map of the area and a compass. But nope. They heaed straight into the woods to get lost again. :happy-clapping:

Do you get these over there?

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=no&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=no&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aftenposten.no%2Fnyheter%2Firik s%2FKvinner-gikk-seg-vill-for-andre-gang-pa-to-dogn-7258151.html%23xtor%3DRSS-3

[Silverback]

yes we do....like the 3 tourists trying to walk the Pennine Way which is a 275 mile moorland/mountain national trail in some really difficult terrain with an aa road atlas a tin of sardines and a blue plastic tarp between the 3 !

The pair trying to walk the Coast to Coast walk and got rescued twice

[Ichneumon]

I'm sure Sapper will be able to tell you many tales about such numpties. So yes, we have them here too - and not just on land but at sea too.

[Ichneumon]

You beat me to it by 2 minutes Wayne. :D

[Silverback]

I'm sure Sapper will be able to tell you many tales about such numpties. So yes, we have them here too - and not just on land but at sea too.

Thankfully the real 'numpties' are few and far between

[FishyFolk]

The sea, hah!
We got lots of fishing tourists, and ammong them many brits. But it's the Germans we hear hear about. Luckilly most of them wear float suits, which makes it a lot easier to find and recover their bodies, once they neglect listening to the weather forecast, and advice from local fishermen warning them against going out in an open 16 footer while there is a storm coming in...

The french tend to kill themselves in winter, when their guides from the french alps lead them into the local avalanche zones because they "are experienced and know how to read the terrain and the snow"...well, they are faaaaaar away from the alps...

[woodsman]

Plenty of idiots in this country, even school teachers who are supposed to have some sense of responsibility take children into the unknown without training or know how how of basic navigation. And worse still they go out just in their school uniform , in the winter. The local MR team gets called out to rescue them , and the MR team leader gives the school teachers a very stiff talking to. A year later, in a bad winter, the very same teachers, do exactly the same thing again !!!

[Silverback]

Plenty of idiots in this country


T^

[sausage100uk]

a few years ago (pre children) me and the wife were in the highlands on top of a munro (I forget which one) when the weather went from a typical sunny august day to thick fog and drizzle in the space of an hour, you couldn't see more than 30ft in any direction, not good with 500 ft drops if you head off in the wrong direction. thankfully id been really anal about having compass, map and gps backup, otherwise we'd probably still be up there now :-) .....earlier in the week we'd seen a guy walking up a mountain in sandals carrying a stripy carrier bag with a packet of biscuits in it (I kid you not!)

[shepherd]

.....earlier in the week we'd seen a guy walking up a mountain in sandals carrying a stripy carrier bag with a packet of biscuits in it (I kid you not!)


hahahahahaha T^

[saxonaxe]

If it wasn't such a drain on emergency services and distressing for innocent family members, some of the antics people get up to would be funny. Hot and sunny weekend and as usual the Coastguard get called out..someone stuck halfway up the chalk sea cliffs where I live.
They rescued him and saw he had tied a rope to a cliff top sign post, climbed down and froze..couldn't go up or down...The sign reads "Dangerous unstable chalk cliff...Do not climb"....;)

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk136/highandry_photos/exceat006.jpg (http://s279.photobucket.com/user/highandry_photos/media/exceat006.jpg.html)

[shepherd]

wtf?! idiot!!!

[happybonzo]

Blokey and 3 small children in an inflatable boat made by that old Mexican boatbuilders, El Cheapo, were rescued 3 times by Western Super Mare inshore RNLI. On the 3rd effort, a rescue knife slipped out of its container and shredded the matey's boat
"Why did you do that?" he asked...

[shepherd]

On the 3rd effort, a rescue knife slipped out of its container and shredded the matey's boat
"Why did you do that?" he asked...

lol T^

[MASC703]

These types are everywhere. Plenty of numbskulls here

[saxonaxe]

And another one...as starring in the local Newspaper...:D
(Quote).." A South East Coast Ambulance Service car and ambulance were sent to the scene and the man was taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital for further treatment to a potential fracture to his foot.
The daredevil jumped just yards from where new signs have been placed warning beachgoers of the risk of death or serious injury from tombstoning off the pier and groynes." .....:rolleyes:

[Valantine]

Me and 3 mates all with a fair amount of mountain experience were on Helvellyn a few years back, lovely view from the summit till the clouds dropped (visibility went down to 3-4m at one point). All those tourists in shorts and trainers carrying bottles of water they bought from the shop asking where to go and what to do lol. Many of the answers are not repeatable. No deaths were reported but there must have been some very close calls.

[Silverback]

Of course the reasonable reply as responsible and friendly walkers / mountaineers would be 'that way would you like me to show you ? ' Not to utter unrepeatable on the forum words....at least help them off the hill before sitting in judgement rather than sitting on the hill and leaving them to possibly walk off browncove crag.....mind you at least you're not sitting in judgement in your armchair writing a letter of disgust at the burden to the taxpayer and demanding training courses and insurance to your local paper like mr nimby of surbiton

[Valantine]

But I never said it was our group that made the comments as we were already leaving using the cairns to get off the peak.

[Silverback]

If you were already leaving then the same applies.... 'Why don't you follow us ?' Its easy really

The very ethos of Mountain Rescue and how it all started is walkers and mountaineers lending assistance to other fell and mountain going folks

[Valantine]

Didn't you read the bit about low cloud/visibility and as a matter of fact using sound on a mountain to navigate is a really bad idea.

[Silverback]

Didn't you read the bit about low cloud/visibility and as a matter of fact using sound on a mountain to navigate is a really bad idea.

Of course I read that bit....and what's sound got to do with it ? I'm well aware of how to navigate on mountains (and above 4000m at that) well aware of how to navigate on featureless moorland too, and while I think on have navigated by sound....by homing in on a lost partys whistle blasts.

[rawfish111]

Didn't you read the bit about low cloud/visibility and as a matter of fact using sound on a mountain to navigate is a really bad idea.

Sorry am I missing something.

So far questions were asked by the ill prepared in low vis and many of the answers unrepeatable (the group evidently not involved but close enough to witness or not isn't clear) , a suggestion has been made that offering advice/assistance would have been the decent thing to do and i personally would have thought in the ethos of most of us who enjoy the outdoors responsibly, lets face it most of us have had occasion to provide, at the very least, advice and a point in the right direction... not sure where using sound to navigate comes in, seems a bit of an irrelevance as far as the discussion in progress to me....... :confused2:

[Silverback]

When it comes to navigating in wild country/ mountains I ignore cairns too preferring accurate bearings, pacing, aiming off and attack points, and aspect of slope

[rawfish111]

When it comes to navigating in wild country/ mountains I ignore cairns too preferring accurate bearings, pacing, aiming off and attack points, and aspect of slope

Ah ... ACTUAL navigation??

[Silverback]

Ah ... ACTUAL navigation??

I bought a Garmin Etrex in 2006 ish and I think - have used it no more than ten times....

[rawfish111]

I know that script, bought my Magellan trail blazer 2 from the NAAFI in 1999/2000 and always carry it but never use the damn thing except to check it still works

[Silverback]

Aye I had a Magellan too...aquisition times were pants but as one of the first civvy hand held GPS it wasn't bad

[rawfish111]

Only bought the damn thing 'cos it was the shiniest thing in the shop.. bragging rights in the pub on leave was the most use it ever was

[Silverback]

Just remembered I saw a program and it had a blind man on it who found his way around by emitting small clicks like a dolphin/ bat....human sonar

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vpxEmD0gu0Q

[SimonB]

:happy-clapping:

[Rasputin]

Just remembered I saw a program and it had a blind man on it who found his way around by emitting small clicks like a dolphin/ bat....human sonar

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vpxEmD0gu0Q

I saw that one Wayne he was pretty remarkable, It was some time ago though

[Silverback]

Aye be of little use on the C.M.D Arete I'll bet ;)

[Rasputin]

Aye be of little use on the C.M.D Arete I'll bet ;)

:happy-clapping: yay unless he was on his bike lol

[FishyFolk]

Last time I was tempted by a GPS, the cost around the 400£ mark. Luckilly on the wall, behind the display case and the eager salesman there hanged bunch of compasses in the 10£ range, allong with maps. So I got out of there with map, compass....and a 400£ fishing rod and reel combo....:confused2:

[f0rm4t]

Many of the answers are not repeatable. No deaths were reported but there must have been some very close calls.

I haven't read a statement that you did not actually help anyone. Merely that there was some, telling off going on.
The second sentence seems more a "general comment of the day & area" to me.

Funny how different people interpret the written word differently.

Please don't stop contributing Valantine!

[TarHeelBrit]

Oh yeah stupid tourists aren't a new thing. when I lived in Alaska my wife and I would hike the local trails in Chugach State Park we would see them every year. Walking the trails with no kit and trainers on their feet. Many a time we came across people with blisters and turned ankles. We always carried a first aid kit and my wife (EMT) would patch them up and point them DOWN the mountain to the Troopers station. One couple commented as we passed them "why are thay carrying all that stuff? it's a beautiful day" I was carrying our day pack and you can't really call it 'all that stuff'. Guess they didn't check to see how fast the weather changes in the mountains.

What ticks me off beyond beleif are idiots who go out with no prep and expect mountain rescue to risk their lives saving their stupid butts.

[Silverback]

What ticks me off beyond beleif are idiots who go out with no prep and expect mountain rescue to risk their lives saving their stupid butts.

The only people who have a right to be ticked off is the SAR teams doing the job..... particularly here in the UK as it costs the taxpayer nothing for the service

[f0rm4t]

The only people who have a right to be ticked off is the SAR teams doing the job..... particularly here in the UK as it costs the taxpayer nothing for the service

Anyone has the right to be ticked off about anything they so choose

[Silverback]

Anyone has the right to be ticked off about anything they so choose

aye and write a strongly worded letter to the 'Times'.......demanding insurance is taken out to cover the tax pounds lost.....yawn

[Silverback]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-28853850

and whilst we're discussing unpreparedness.......useful info. Not only may it save unnecessary call outs to our SAR services, but it could save a life !

[Ehecatl]

Anyone has the right to be ticked off about anything they so choose

Paul - are you ticked off that you're getting a tourist from the midlands visiting your local tomorrow night? :mad2:

[f0rm4t]

Paul - are you ticked off that you're getting a tourist from the midlands visiting your local tomorrow night? :mad2:

I'll pop over and see you bud!

[Ehecatl]

I'll pop over and see you bud!

I should be there 20:00 - 20:30 and Terry said he'd be there but I'm not sure about Mike yet.

[TarHeelBrit]

The only people who have a right to be ticked off is the SAR teams doing the job..... particularly here in the UK as it costs the taxpayer nothing for the service


Anyone has the right to be ticked off about anything they so choose


aye and write a strongly worded letter to the 'Times'.......demanding insurance is taken out to cover the tax pounds lost.....yawn

Hang on folks. :) let's clarify my "ticked-off-idness" Personally I don't give a fig about the financial costs what I care about is the people who risk their lives to save these idiots. I keep thinking about (I beleive) it was a Welsh mountain rescue team that lost three members on a twit recovery mission. This was something like 40 years ago so the old brain box might be letting me down on a few facts.

[Rasputin]

I dare suggest it Wayne, I remember many years ago when I was on the road, 1 horse and rider exercising 3 other horses on the verge of the A1 nr Weatherby. 1 horse got spooked and all of them ran on the A1 causing chaos on both sides of the road and a multipileup where 1 man died and several injuries, and as for cyclists I had 1 squeeze by me at lights and scratched my door with his bars. So sod the uproar lets have them Insured. ps I do cycle when I can, ATB fella Ken

[Silverback]

Cycle helmets save lives, fact. As do back protectors and riding hats.......I dont ride anymore...but i do cycle.

[FishyFolk]

Cycle helmets save lives, fact. As do back protectors and riding hats.......I dont ride anymore...but i do cycle.

Mandatory by law for children. But most grown ups use them as well. Mostly because these days people frown uppon those that don't. Bad example for the kids etc.

Anyway, here is a survival situation that ended well with a rescue...but thses ladies did most things right after things went pear shaped for them. Although personally I would have preffered to be better equipped if I was going into that wilderness area, than they where...(shelter).

The link is to a google translate of the Norwegian article. So some sentences are total gibberish. But it should be possible to get the essentials :-)

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=no&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nordlys.no%2Fnyheter%2Farticle7 538156.ece&edit-text=

[Silverback]

Fairly well equipped by the looks of it Rune and all ended well......

Sometimes i wonder if those who are very well equipped fall into the hands of the SAR services because they have become over confident in their gear and abilities. I've certainly been at more incidents in which the casualty was well equipped than those that were not....the exception being the ones that intentionally went onto the hills with the express purpose of not coming back, but thats another issue.

[FishyFolk]

Fairly well equipped by the looks of it Rune and all ended well......

Sometimes i wonder if those who are very well equipped fall into the hands of the SAR services because they have become over confident in their gear and abilities. I've certainly been at more incidents in which the casualty was well equipped than those that were not....the exception being the ones that intentionally went onto the hills with the express purpose of not coming back, but thats another issue.


There is one group of people that irritates me more in Norway than the ill equipped. And that is the well equipped that think that their equipment and "experience" make them immune against everything that mother nature can throw at them. Each year 10-15 of them dies in avalanches that they started themselves, because they think that it will be perfectly okay to go down hill skiing in the mountains while every media and avalanche expert in the country is screaming for people NOT to go into the hills.

Then people like you Sapper, have to go into the avalanche areas and try to rescue them. That is...last year several died because SAR deemed it to dangerous to go in. A couple of these where left for a week before SAR could go in and get the bodies out...

Anyway, thse girls above where fairly well equipped yes. But their only shelter was a couple of sleeping bags and one bivvy bag (Jerven bag) between them. I would have brought at least a tarp on top of that. But as I said. They conducted themselves quite well, once they discovered they where in trouble.

[DomC]

In Florida, the answer is yes but the danger is not bush related...it's ocean related. Landlocked tourists drown every year in our beaches due to our treacherous rip currents. They panick and drown.They don't dare set foot in our scrub because fear of gators, poisonous snakes, feral pigs deter them. They are attracted to our coasts during their summer vacations because camping is miserable in the scrub during the summer. Even the locals like me stay out of the scrub until the temps lower in fall/winter.

DomC

[Silverback]

We're an island nation. Yet 75% of the population are effective none swimmers !

[TarHeelBrit]

When I was living in Alaska the guys I worked with would dread tourist season as we never knew how Alaska was going to treat them. Every year there were accidents with tourists, tour boats going down, planes flying into mountains, train crashes, people lost in the bush, people falling off of the mountains etc.

One of my mates was full blown Athabascan and said Alyeska (Aleut word meaning "Great Land") didn't like strangers on her land. You have to earn the right to call yourself Alaskan and live there, then she will accept you. It took me one long hard winter to be accepted.