News
Lincoln cheats death on Everest
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Mountain rescue helicopters face uncertain future
Britain’s search-and-rescue helicopter bases face closure in six years’ time.Tony Blair’s Labour government plans to privatise the service in 2012, with no guarantee that the current military and coastguard bases will continue to provide cover from the bases they now do.The new service will be run under a private finance initiative (PFI) which have been so successful in building up massive profits for companies providing hospitals with overpriced new buildings and landing the health authorities and therefore the taxpayer (ie us!) with decades of debt.
Survey aims to tick the right boxes
Wanted: men in running shorts; hairy legs preferred.The Mountaineering Council of Scotland put grough on to a survey in which the ticks are more than the usual instance of just filling boxes.The Heather Trust – that’s a trust interested in heather moorland rather than named after a woman of that name – is conducting research into ticks, the annoying little beasts that attach themselves to various bits of our anatomy and feast on blood.The trust says there’s anecdotal evidence that their prevalence is increasing and wants to find out it that’s true.
Take a grough trip to the underworld
This weekend sees the end of the winch meet for the Craven Pothole Club at Gaping Gill, Yorkshire most impressive underground attraction.
Ramblers aim to get Britain on its feet
The Ramblers Association’s fifth annual attempt to get Britons off their backsides and on to their feet is approaching.Welcome to Walking Week is the national festival to coax people into taking up walking.
Pakistan drops its fees for high mountains
Fancy a bargain? Check this out: a mountain sale.The Pakistan government has celebrated the designation of 2007 as Visit Pakistan Year by dropping its...
Irish farmers demand cash for access
Farmers in the Republic of Ireland are demanding €5 per metre for allowing walkers on routes crossing their land.In a move grough can only hope doesn’t catch on this side of the Irish Sea, the farmers’ representative body, the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) says its members should receive government money as compensation for having waymarked paths across their land.The IFA was also the only member of Comhairle na Tuaithe, the country council set up by the Irish Government, not to agree to a report which outlined a strategy for access and recreation in the Irish countryside.
Marshals needed for fell championships
Calder Valley Fell Runners are asking for help marshalling a national event next month.The British Fell Relay Championships are being hosted by the Yorkshire club at Castle Carr.
Council keeps control of fire-ravaged moor
Bradford Council has rejected calls to hand over Ilkley Moor to a trust, following extensive fires this summer.The fires, in the last week of July, devastated more than 500 acres of upland heath and led to the Moorland Association’s call to close every access area in England.
Young Brits on top of the world
There were celebrations galore on the roof of the world as two teenagers bagged the record as the youngest Britons to top out on the planet’s highest peak.Rob Gauntlett, of Petworth, Sussex, and James Hooper, of Wellington, Somerset, both 19, reached the summit of Everest via the north route just after 8am local time on Wednesday.
Terror suspects 'trained in Lakes'
Terror suspects have been using Britain’s national parks for their training, according to The Guardian newspaper.The English Lake District (above), venue for terrorist suspects' campsThe story by Ian Cobain and Richard Norton-Taylor in today’s edition claims the paper knows the precise location in the English Lake District where security services monitored the training, but cannot disclose it.The report says the men were not aware they were under surveillance, but they were not undergoing weapons or explosives training.
Get on the edge for mountain rescue team
Edale Mountain Rescue team needs your help.If you’re a climber, a runner or a walker you can add a few pounds to their coffers by taking part next month in a 20-mile challenge.The Derbyshire team is running the Nine Edges Endurance – a course starting at Fairholmes visitor centre at Ladybower Reservoir and finishing at a pub near Baslow.The route takes in nine gritstone edges, hence the name, and costs £10 to enter, though the MRT is asking participants to consider sponsorship to boost funds.
Hill runners need new officers
Scottish Hill Runners need nominations for the posts of convenor, secretary and treasurer in advance of their 2007 annual meeting on 11 November at Symington Sports Centre, following the Tinto Race.
Mountain council needs a whizz kid
If you’re hot with a PC and know your databases from your dongles, there’s a job you may be interested in.The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) is advertising a vacancy for an IT and database co-ordinator at it Manchester HQ.The post pays between £24,474 and £29,891, depending on your experience.
Mountain marathon dates announced
Organisers of the Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon have announced that the race will take place next year on 9 and 10 June.Cryptically, Martin Stone, in charge of organising the event, says he expects it to take place further south than this year’s event.
Park planners want better access for Ennerdale
Planners in the Lake District have rejected the idea of promoting one of its remotest areas as a wilderness.Members of the Lake District National Park Authority say they do not want to see a ‘Wild Ennerdale’ brand created, but do want to improve access to the area.The authority’s recreation and tourism advisor Helen Houghton said: “Ennerdale forms part of the wider cultural landscape of the Lake District, which may be put forward for World Heritage Site Inscription.
Underwater swimmers come to aid of mountain team
Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) is £8,500 better off after its annual Kern Knotts fundraising weekend.The sum was boosted by the first ever full length swim of Wast Water, underwater.
Harness recall notice and battery advice issued
Two manufacturers have issued warnings about their equipment.The first, and perhaps most urgent, is from climbing gear makers Black Diamond who have put out a ‘stop using until inspected’ instruction on some of their climbing harnesses.The models affected are the ‘Speed’ range – Focus Speed, Gym Speed, Momentum Speed and Vario Speed harnesses along with the Wiz Kid.