101 uses for a mobile!

[IainR]

I knew this would happen. On my ML assessment a couple of years ago the carrying of mobile phones was still a discussion point now it seems you are criminally liable if you lead a group onto the hills without some form of electronic communication device.


I've been going on the hills for a long time and I've always felt free there. Not any more.

The last quote? Really? I've just spent a week running in the North West Highlands and felt as free as I did 10 years ago. Not sure what has changed for a general hill runner rather than hill racer? Why do you no longer feel free?

Re the MLs and mobiles agreed. If a client had a heart attack and died and you were in an area of signal (most of Snowdonia summits) and had no mobile you'd be in trouble.

I was talking to a mate, a VERY experienced diver/fisherman/boat person re the use of GPS's and he reckoned hill walking is where his sports were 10 years ago. When they first came out it was very much as a back up, now almost all sailing/powerboating/dove boats/fishing boats work largely of GPS's if they use any form of navigation. Many just navigate by sight. Wonder of we'll see the same change in the mountains.

I'm not sure as 'old fashioned' navigation is so enjoyable and part of the experience.

[Edam]

I'm not sure as 'old fashioned' navigation is so enjoyable and part of the experience.

Can't have been-hardly anyone actually does it. We just all collude to the myth of navigating in races. I race 50 times a year and hardly ever see anyone with a map out.

Once when lost I got my map and compass out and was instantly surrounded by half a dozen runners with cries of "he's got a compass!" They should have had as well (kit requirement) but they were lost as well but like most runners in races were just following the person in front.

[IainR]

Sorry I assumed some people went out in the hills outside of racing?? I'm refering to going out in the hills. I certainly don't get the great fredom experience from fell racing. I took buicks comment to mean being out in the hills, not racing.

This is the Fell runners forum, not just fell racers

I agree re racing, I've only used a map in a fell race once or twice. I follow, most do, but wouldn't blame anyone if I got lost with them, its all about taking gambles. You win some you lose some.

[skyline]

Dark Peak use hanheld radios at most checkpoints which communicate with base & each other. We used to use a local radio club but one of the guys got exposure on Brown Knoll .......................

[skyline]

I was talking to a mate, a VERY experienced diver/fisherman/boat person re the use of GPS's and he reckoned hill walking is where his sports were 10 years ago.

my mobile dunt work when I'm diving

[Guick Dotto]

IainR
Well maybe I'm overstating it with regard to just being on the hills. It's up to me if I want to go out at night, solo a route, swim a lake and bivi in a cave without telling anyone. But I'll bet beginners' guides and updates of Langmuir will stipulate mobiles as necessary items of kit and in a few years you and I will seem as eccentric as Millican Dalton when we set off running with just a pair of shorts, a vest and fell shoes on. You're already thinking what about the bumbag...?

[Wheeze]

Edam, don't know where you race but I have regularly needed to use my compass during a race. Usually I'll write down key bearings on my hand with biro and use them to get me across clagged terrain rather than having to struggle with a map. I reckon I was running 'blind' on a bearing for 70% of the Rhinogs....and, yes, I did collect a few 'faithful' followers who assumed I knew what I was doing! The local radio hams were also out in force that day.

Made the mistake of following a local at carneddau last year who cheerfully led us the wrong way off llewellyn. Served me right for being lazy and not getting the compass out. We live and learn!

[IainR]

Depends, spent all week running in the Highlands, about 60 miles, 20,000 ft of ascent, 5 more munros, a corbett and a stunning morning on the Eastern Skye Hills.

Sometimes I'll run with nothing, last week we took rucksacks, mitts, I also carried a bothy shelter, but with temps of -5 and 50mph winds, wind chill was -23 I think a spare fleece and other safety gear was justified, so I think you go out with what you think is necessary.

A mobile is certainly something to be considered when I pack a bag, we didn't carry one last week but did discuss it.

[Edam]

Sorry I assumed some people went out in the hills outside of racing?? I'm refering to going out in the hills. I certainly don't get the great fredom experience from fell racing. I took buicks comment to mean being out in the hills, not racing.

This is the Fell runners forum, not just fell racers

I agree re racing, I've only used a map in a fell race once or twice. I follow, most do, but wouldn't blame anyone if I got lost with them, its all about taking gambles. You win some you lose some.

The start of this thread was enforcing the carrying of a mobile in a race so my comments were about racing.

[IainR]

The guy I replied to made a general comment about 'in the hills', to me that's not racing.

I appreciate for others it is, fell running is a wide raning sport, many come into it from the climbing/hill walking back grounds and spend onlya small % of their hill time actually racing, where as many come to it from the roads and only really step foot on the hills to race.