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Rescue - Bunny Bucket 26-May-2014 At 4:45:33 PM jahmz

Message

I have to agree with Superstu. In most cases, I am sympathetic with the victim (we can rarely fully understand the situation), but I feel that in this case the individuals took advantage of the emergency services, putting them at risk and making a bad name for the sport.

I have experienced epics in the Grose, long walks with sprained ankles and dark, rainy, windy retreats. I have been dehydrated and cramped and climbed clip to clip on BBB on my first big multipitch. but personally I would never call the emergency services unless I was in danger. I cant see how being benighted is anything more than horribly uncomfortable.

I do understand that it is harder to make judgements in a stressful situation but this is something that we have to understand when we engage in the sport. it IS inherently dangerous, and people new to the sport need to fully understand the commitment they are undertaking. I apologize to the individuals involved for making sweeping judgements, however I believe it is a good case to represent what I feel is becoming more and more common as the sport gains popularity. I see so many people making simple mistakes, completely oblivious to the dangers, whether it is not knowing how to use their gear, assuming it is fool proof or failing to take enough food, water or head-torches on a big wall.

Climbing is still risky, I feel we need to develop a culture that understands risk above all. We tend to become complacent because we are used to the exposure, and when things go wrong it looks far worse in the media and to the wider public. Calling in the cavalry when you are in no danger just adds to this image. If controls ever get put on climbing it wont be because of the emergency services complaining about the danger they are in, it will be someone at a desk looking at the statistics. and seeing climbing as a growing danger that needs to be stopped.

Look after yourselves, be prepared, and look after our emergency services too.

Rant over, let the backlash commence.