Sir Hector rejects call for mountain controls

accidents on the hills.

The #3000 study -- commissioned by the Mountain Rescue Committee of

Scotland and funded by the Scottish Office -- was launched formally at a

mountain safety seminar in Dunblane yesterday. It found that half of the

climbers who sustained fatal head injuries had not been wearing helmets,

and almost a quarter of all mountain accidents in Glencoe were fatal.

The study also revealed that 30 years ago there were around 50

emergency incidents for mountain rescue teams but by the 1990s this had

risen to more than 250 a year.

Between 1989 and 1993, 18% of accidents on the hills were fatal, with

Glencoe having the highest fatality rate at 23%. Where climbers had

accidents after losing their way, half carried a map and compass but

were not able to use them properly.

Sir Hector welcomed the study findings as a crucial source of

information on mountaineering accidents but rejected calls for any form

of regulation.

''I do not think that it makes sense at this stage to consider any

form of regulated approach,'' he said. ''I know there are strong views

for and against such proposals.

''Personally, I am not attracted to a solution which sees the outdoors

obscured by red tape.

''I see great problems in trying to frame realistic or workable

regulations. I would also be very concerned about unreasonable intrusion

in private individuals' freedom of choice and action.

''There are certainly examples in other countries where such matters

as personal insurance are part and parcel of serious climbers'

investment in their activity. I am not convinced we want to go down this

route here.''

He urged the audience of climbers and safety experts to look for

innovative approaches to cutting the toll of deaths and injuries.

''It is vital that fresh ideas on the whole question of safety on the

hills are explored.''

He said there had been 50 deaths on Scotland's hills in the past two

seasons and 20 deaths so far this year. ''One death would be too many.

Fifty deaths is far too many -- we need to do all we can to get these

figures down.''

Speaking at the same seminar, Mr Bob Reid, president of the

Mountaineering Council of Scotland, attacked The Munro Show, hosted by

Muriel Gray, for glamourising what is essentially a dangerous sport.

''Muriel Gray's The Munro Show brought many many thousands of new

people into the sport,'' he said. ''I believe some of those thought it

was going to be all fun and plain sailing.''

He added: ''I strongly believe real improvements in mountain safety

will only begin to come when the simple message that mountaineering is

dangerous gets across.''

Mr Reid, who has been a climber for 20 years, said individual

responsiblity was crucial, as was accepting, understanding, and

minimising the risks. ''Too many are coming blithely into the sport

without an understanding that it is a dangerous sport,'' he said.