Managing the risks on the mountains does not dull the adventure, writes Tim Orr
TO THE UNINITIATED, the uplands of Ireland may appear to be hills rather than mountains. Although dwarfed by the Himalayas, the Alps and the greater ranges, what the Irish mountains lack in height they more than make up for in an uncompromising combination of topography and weather. Any of us who venture out to enjoy this naturally inspiring and healthy playground soon learn that the Irish mountains demand respect.
Recent estimates of people venturing into the mountains of Ireland are in the hundreds of thousands. With such a large footfall, accidents are inevitable and are often widely publicised, creating a somewhat unbalanced perception of what, statistically, is a relatively safe sport.
The risk of accidents can be significantly reduced by every individual being aware of their own personal training and safety. Mountaineering is a discipline that requires the individual to develop skills parallel to their progression within their chosen field - be it rock-climbing, alpine mountaineering or hillwalking. Undertaking training in the management of risk within mountaineering does not dull the adventure and, in fact, can greatly enhance the overall experience and encourage people to move forward to explore new horizons.
Many choose to carry out an apprentice style of training, learning skills informally through experience and close observation of their peers. Others undertake a more structured approach, following a course of national and internationally recognised qualifications through mountaineering federations and National Governing Bodies (NGBs). The Mountaineering Council of Ireland, the NGB for mountaineering in Ireland, promotes both the informal and formal approach to training for individuals and groups.
An awareness of the risks that the mountains of Ireland can present is the key to planning for any eventuality. Weather, topographical and human hazards can combine in any number of scenarios - the outcome of which will greatly depend on training, experience and preparation. The wide variety of Irish terrain and conditions makes a definitive list of dos and don'ts for the mountains impossible - the following, however, should always be considered before you make that first step into the hills:
* Be realistic about what you can manage, bearing in mind your current ability, fitness and experience.
* Learn to interpret the national and regional weather forecasts for the mountain environment, but always take heed of local conditions.
* Learn to navigate without dependency on technology, marked trails or other users.
* Equip yourself realistically for your planned journey, taking into account weather, terrain and duration.
* Carry emergency back-up equipment for the unexpected, but do not overburden yourself.
* Acknowledge and consider your actions on other users of the uplands.
* Never push on regardless: if unsure, be safe and return another day.
At the end of the day, when you are fighting into hail, with light fading and ground steepening, it is your training that will get you home safely.