On Jan 1, 11:59*am, "Dave Liquorice"
wrote:
On Fri, 1 Jan 2010 10:02:13 -0000, Will Hand wrote:
Many years ago I was strolling up Helvellyn on a sunny day in summer. I
could not believe it when I saw a couple coming down with no rucksack
and her in a bikini! (nice boobs IIRC :-)) . OK it was a nice day but
what if she broke an ankle or something, how would she stay warm?

Or if the weather turned? It changes very quickly up on the fells.

http://www.howhill.com/weather/view....2008&m=01&d=31

OK January but similar rain squalls come through in the summer. To be
caught in one of those in T shirt and shorts could well be life
threatening as the wind chill would be down to freezing.

I think the Lakes suffer at lot from unprepared people 'cause places
like Kendal, Windemere etc are quite low, only 100m or so, and with
the deep, steep sided, valleys relatively sheltered. It can be a 25C
and calm down there but up on the fells it'll be 20C and breezy.
Couple that with peoples general lack of experience of the weather,
both being out in it for more than 5 minutes and how fast it can
change, and people will walk themselves into danger.

Personally I think any one dragged of the fells who has ventured out
unstuitably attrired and unprepared ought to be charged by the
*volunteer* mountain rescue teams, say £100/person rescued. Even if
it can't be brought in as legislation the MRTs could still drop some
strongly worded hints and send/give stuff in writing that that a
*sizeable* donation to the MRT would be a good idea.

--
Cheers Dave.
Nr Garrigill, Cumbria. 421m ASL.

I agree. The changes in the hills can be dramatic and suddely life-
threatening. While walking in the Lake District, in February, I think
around Red Tarn, the very windy, but drizzly weather turned quickly to
driving snow and my wife and I had to make some difficult decisions
about the route as we just had to to get back down quickly.
Fortunately we were well dressed, but an accident in that sudden
weather could have easily been life-threatening. It was raining when
we got down to the car park! I won't let my family walk on Dartmoor,
even in Summer, without adequate protection for the conditions, maps,
mobile phones etc. etc!