Quote Originally Posted by Stick View Post
Hi Heathens, I agree with you that experience is the way to go, but I believe the certification route - esp the on-line one you describe - is the slippery path to a runners permit and wouldn't really achieve anything (...and that is an anathema to many fell runners minds...though I can only speak for me of course!)
It's not perfect but if we're serious about saving lives, then surely more education is the way to go. It would only be an hour or so, annually or even every two years so it's not an overly arduous task.

All the online courses/tests I've ever done have been too basic to really test anyones real knowledge and understand, and moreover application in practice and certainly a Computer Based Training package would be hard pressed to test someone's abilities to find safety when they're lost in the e.g. howgills or a more wilder/hostile environ.
You can't account for everything but at least it would allow the basics to be taught, e.g. What to head for if lost, how to get your bearings, IDEAL KIT, etc etc. I'm not the expert in this area but I do a lot of online learning through work and some of the new courses are spot on. Many of them are video based ones that you can watch on your phone, ipad, tv so fairly convenient.

If you want to get an idea of how this could be presented, google MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) which is basically University lectures delivered online. I've done a few of them and currently doing one on public speaking - some of them are really good.

Races like the Ben have 'experience' qualification pre-requisites which I think are a better way to go as a 'qualification' for the tougher races rather than a training course, especially one which lets be honest, could be taken in the warmth, with a mate helping out. And I think I'm right in saying that the BNRA introduced this after their tragedy involving an inexperienced runner.
There's no reason you couldn't retain this system for the tougher courses, in addition to the online course.