Look, I could be wrong about this but I think we got the message and I think we are trying to tell you we are pretty indifferent about personal locator beacons.
I could be wrong and there might be exceptions but now might be a good time to consider that you have tried and that, after all, even you can't win them all.
I'm with Fellshoeshuffler. Fell running is er.... about biting off what you can chew and then um.... chewing it
I don't really think you got the message. The campaign and petition is about a CHANGE in the LAW. so that everyone has the choice of owning one. We are not saying that everyone should go out and buy one! Does this hurt you?
FellShoeShuffler and Stolly you do not represent every fell runner. There are a lot of people out there who are not aware that there are such things as PLBs.
Stolly having looked at your beautiful scenic pictures and route, you go into the countryside very much like Long Distance Riders (except we don't chance it in the dark) where there is a high chance of a foot down a rabbit hole or a stumble and leg injury. We all like to rely onorselves but occasionally we can't.
Last edited by jenniwren; 19-01-2008 at 10:18 AM. Reason: looked at Stolly's pictures and route.
Sorry but ths would be an expensive implementation for an underused tool. Stretching mountain rescue resources even thinner than they are at the moment. They have enough trouble with fools in the hills with a mobile for security imagine what they will be like with a mobile and a PLB?
Be like the drinking ad where bloke thinks he is invincible and climbs scaffolding. Load of people going outside their limits due to a little button they can press. I know you say that it won't be abused but it just will. One persons emergency is another persons challenge.
Maybe it would be better to have a general campaign to educate hill and mountain users instead?
Last edited by AJF; 19-01-2008 at 10:20 AM.
So you rather deny many more responsible people?...not surprising! Have a look at the link below.
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdeta...storyID=130702
I can't see how MRT's or SAR's would be stretched - quite the opposite, they would know where their casualty was by the GPS beacon co-ordinates (within 125 metres) and waste less time in the search part of the rescue. How many times in the dark have rescues had to be abandoned? ....the PLB will transmit through the night. Full battery life is at least 24 hours.
Those numpties that ring 999 for assistance to get back for a party won't likely know about PLB's. There's also legislation in place now with marine and air that will slow down the misuse of PLBs in-land.
If you are in a group you don't all need to have a PLB. In Australia they do hire them out from outdoor pursuit centres and this could be the way foward for some that don't want to afford the purchase.
Maybe not, but it seems from your responses that I am not the only who doesn't get the message.Originally Posted by jenniwren
Any real level of interest would have generated a huge number of posts confirming what a good idea we all think PLBs are but it didn't happen.
Didn't happen on the UK climbing forum either, are you ignorant to this feedback Jenni or just ignoring it? On both forums it has been discussed rationally by people who are heavily involved in outdoor activities involving elements of risk. The conclusion I have drawn from both forums is that it is not legal to use on land for good reason - too many button happy wanna be explorers with the potential to stretch our UK MR teams to beyond breaking point.
On the UKC forum you will have seen Outdoorsman's sound arguments for PLBs. A lot of very well informed information came from him/her. There was some element of rationality on UKC but a lot of the argument was from ignorance and possible prejudice leading to rudeness!
The lack of other participants in this discussion doesn't mean that it is not being read, quiet opinions being formed and futher investigation being done by the individual.
In the US and Australia they have had land based PLBs since 2003 and it is working well!
According to the news this week MRT's are already stretched from people going out ill prepared,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7195365.stm
If that's what the unprepared hill walker in the UK thinks MRT are there for, then I don't think PLB's will be used responsibly.One couple wanted a helicopter because they were late for a dinner party.
Yes in theory they are a good idea, but no, I don't believe they will be used responsibly. Are the MRT's campaigning for them to be made legal? Surely they are one's who should be campaigning for their legalization as they are the ones you believe will be benefitting.
Last edited by dominion; 19-01-2008 at 07:18 PM.
Well said Dom. Leave it to the experts to decide. MRT's have a very well informed view of what they do and do not need.
I tend to agree with others that resources are better spent teaching people about outdoor craft than buying yet another gizmo of dubious worth that will be abused by the untrained/thoughtless.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote