(*Unsolicited).
Clambers up on to his high horse. Puts megaphone to mouth. Yells … ‘oy you lot …. carry one of these’
In the various hats that i wear outdoors i have already seen several occasions / incidents over the last month where one of these would have vastly improved the wellbeing of a lost or injured person or group of people.
I remain amazed at how many people out walking have never seen or heard of a bothy bag (or KISU if you’re still sporting hobnailed boots).
Several people make them. In sizes to accommodate from 2 to 12+ people. The 4 is about 350g. For that 350g you get a picnic sheet, lunch out the wind, a towel for an impromptu wildswim, a thing to wrap muddy clothes in before you head home.
You also get a really really effective way of hunkering down out of the wind and rain when someone in your walking (running, climbing, MTBing etc) group has slipped and injured themselves and can’t walk. Or worse.
£60 for the 4 person SupaLite from Summit Gear. It’s about the size of a rolled up pair of winter walking socks.
The vast majority of call-outs for mountain rescue teams in this country are as a result of injury from a simple slip or trip whch renders the casualty immobile – a slip or trip that could happen to you. Yes, YOU. As a human you’ll end up far worse from the weather (than from the injury) if you’re sat on a hillside waiting for mountain rescue to arrive.
Fractured ankles hurt. Hypothermia kills.
Have i laboured this point enough ? Buy, carry and use a bothy bag.
All year round.
Please.