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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2014 10:48:11 GMT
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Post by campervanannie on Jun 18, 2014 11:06:20 GMT
was it a rhododendrons triffidus nasty man eating plants
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Post by Is it spring yet, dormouse? on Jun 19, 2014 6:37:12 GMT
That is soooo hard to believe!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2014 10:40:47 GMT
Apparently it is a genuine problem with but I'm afraid I just can't take it seriously. I mean, if you can get into a rhododendron bush, surely you can get out too...
And if people lose the path because of the rhododendrons, they should use the map and compass that they should have with them and know how to use. Its not rocket science to navigate around an obstacle but people go off into the hills totally unprepared and rely on others coming to bail them out of trouble free of charge.
I'd rather resign myself to living in a rhododendron bush forever than have the shame of having to call rescue services to come and get me out.
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Post by Firefox on Jun 19, 2014 10:58:05 GMT
I don't think all people go out with map and compass, and many if they did, wouldn't know how to use them But there is hope even for those people if they have a mobile device with GPS and mapping (and can get a signal!), they have a fighting chance I guess. Bottom line is though, people shouldn't go into wilder places if they are not prepared, and leave the rescue services free to deal with the real emergencies like falls and illness.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2014 0:41:16 GMT
The day will come when people will end up being charged for rescue and will need insurance cover, mark my words.
RAF Search and Rescue teams have been sneakily privatised (so presumably are no longer RAF but profit making businesses) and volunteer mountain rescue teams are struggling to cope with the massively increasing number of call outs aswell as increased training so that they are covered against liability( ie the box has been ticked to say that training in XXX has been undertaken to cover their backs) aswell as maintaining the base, vehicles and equipment as well as fund raising to cover the huge increase in costs - they are still independent and receive no govt funding (and every single administrative task is also done by team members) but the situation is unsustainable long term and once they get govt funding (which they will need to be able to continue long term), they will have to meet performance targets and rescues will be done depending on cost rather than on need.
GPS and Sat Navs make it worse as people think they don't need maps and compasses anymore. But maps and compasses aren't affected by signal problems and flat batteries and are much more reliable.
Once upon a time if people got themselves into the sh*t, they got themselves out again, and only asked for assistance from services as a very last resort. In fact, being lost or stuck in undergrowth in the great outdoors and having to be rescued would not be something you admitted to willingly (the shame of it!) unless it was a genuine accident/ injury or sudden illness.
These days it's the first thing people do. Too much reliance on other people getting them out of the smelly stuff which, if they had commonsense, and some basic equipment and the knowledge of how to use it, they would never have got into in the first place.
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Post by Is it spring yet, dormouse? on Jun 20, 2014 5:05:34 GMT
homo sapiens idioticus - they've taken over the planet!
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Post by Firefox on Jun 20, 2014 8:05:55 GMT
The number of people who can read a paper map properly is declining. Sat Navs have to take the blame for that. Even the non drivers would do navigating. Now neither drivers or passengers have to make the effort. So when it comes to using a map when on foot, the skills aren't there. And because it's no doubt assumed people will have sat navs there's less motivation to teach map reading in schools so young people will lose out.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2014 10:08:13 GMT
To be fair, I wasn't taught to map read in school, despite doing geography o level. I first learned to map read through doing the Duke of Edinburghs Award expeditions, then later in the army.
I reckon skills like this are essential and could be taught during a period of national service for youngsters - the other skills learned of self discipline, doing laundry, teamship, respect for authority, and self confidence in own abilities would do today's teenagers a big favour. National service need not be military but could be community service with military type skills , and would give them a sense of ownership for the community, the environment, and themselves, and from that would come respect.
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Post by outtolunch on Jun 20, 2014 10:26:54 GMT
they must have changed the O level sylabus for you youngsters because I had to learn map reading when I did O level geography
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Post by n brown on Jun 20, 2014 10:33:11 GMT
i was supposed to do 'O'level geography,but i couldn't find the examination room
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Post by Firefox on Jun 20, 2014 10:48:43 GMT
O level (GCSE) geography is one of those out of fashion subjects now. No doubt people are doing "social media tv and film studies" instead, but Geography should be a top choice. It's easier to care for your environment if you learn about it. I did A level Geography too... no regrets; great subject.
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Post by Is it spring yet, dormouse? on Jun 20, 2014 12:55:14 GMT
I never understood why geography always seemed to get laughed at as a "non-serious" subject! You're dead right, Vern, it was a fascinating subject and I wish they did more of it at schools! The best thing about taking geography was getting a school field trip to France for a week in the sixth from Of course it was all hard work, naturally!
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Post by robmac on Jun 22, 2014 10:11:48 GMT
When we were kids, we used to go to Charnwood Forest in Leicestershire and 'explore' the Rhododendrons, there were acres of them. Once you get into them it is very disorientating and it sometimes took us hours to get out, so I can well believe this story.
As for calling out rescue services, I think that too many people go out unprepared. I got lost in a blizzard half way up Cairngorm a couple of years ago, complete whiteout and you couldn't see more than a few feet. But I always carry a Bivi bag and -40 sleeping bag and enough food and drink to last a few days and a lightweight camping stove, and I am quite at home staying on the mountain, in fact I enjoy it. I would feel very foolish if I ever had to call out the rescue services.
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Post by robmac on Jun 22, 2014 10:13:41 GMT
To be fair, I wasn't taught to map read in school, despite doing geography o level. I first learned to map read through doing the Duke of Edinburghs Award expeditions, then later in the army. I reckon skills like this are essential and could be taught during a period of national service for youngsters - the other skills learned of self discipline, doing laundry, teamship, respect for authority, and self confidence in own abilities would do today's teenagers a big favour. National service need not be military but could be community service with military type skills , and would give them a sense of ownership for the community, the environment, and themselves, and from that would come respect. Army cadets at school did it for me Jess. I reckon it should be compulsory.
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