| Every year over 150 people are injured and ten killed in the mountains of Snowdonia and now a welcome is being extended to novice walkers keen to learn how to navigate their way safely and successfully across the local mountain ranges.
Up to 60 places are being offered, free of charge, on a navigation course run by experts from the North Wales Mountain Rescue Association, Snowdonia National Park Authority and North Wales Police who have come together to form Mountainsafe.
The course is the first of its kind to be held in the UK and was put together in a direct bid by Mountainsafe members to reduce mountain rescue incidents in Snowdonia.
Starting at 9am at Plas Y Brenin, The National Mountain Centre in Capel Currig, all who take up the free day will spend part of the morning in the classroom before heading out into the mountains with experienced instructors for practical navigational training.
âDuring the training day we hope to encourage people to venture safely in to the hills of Snowdonia by passing on valuable navigational skills and raising public awareness of Mountain Safety issues,â said Mountaineering Instructor and Course Director Tim Bird.
âEvery year over 150 people are injured, with about 10 fatalities in the mountains of Snowdonia, he majority of whom are from outside the North Wales area, so if we can make just a little difference it will be all worth while.â
A recent study looking at the Mountain Rescue incidents in Snowdonia over the past six years highlighted that 82% of the casualties were from outside the National Park and Wales (the majority being from the South and North West of England).
Men between the ages of 21 and 30 are the group most at risk and the study showed that 60% of people who requested help from MRT were not injured.
Mountain Safe Course Director, Tim Bird added: âBy running such an initiative we are hoping to pass on some of the basic navigational skills required by walkers wanting to head into the mountains, skills which can prevent them getting lost or stuck , or if they do get into difficulty , skills they could use to look after themselves and get themselves to safety."
Places are available on the free course at Capel Currig this Sunday, May 13, and Saturday Oct 22. Those wishing to book a place should contact Dion Jones on 01766 772 242 or e-mail mountain.safe@eryri-npa.goc.uk |
Ponterwyd