Cairngorm Mountain Rescue's Winter Season
- Our Team & Partners
Mountain Rescue Teams across the UK play a vital role in ensuring our safety in the mountains. The Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team, known for being one of the busiest teams in the UK, has received our support for many years. Jonny Porteous, CMRT Rescue Coordinator, has provided an overview of last year's winter season and the essential equipment they rely on daily.
"The past year has been particularly busy for the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team. In fact, many of our long-serving members cannot recall a winter season with as many stretcher carries from the Northern Coires. We have faced a wide range of situations, from exhausted hypothermic casualties to individuals injured by avalanches, requiring us to package and transport them back to safety. These varied callouts have taken us to numerous locations, and we've dealt with our fair share of technical rescues.
Two notable rescues occurred within weeks of each other at Shelterstone Crag. Both incidents involved climbers stranded on a 260-meter route known as the Needle. The rescues demanded substantial effort due to the location and the need to transport heavy technical rigging equipment and long ropes to and from the crag top. The team was deployed to the crag late in the evening and successfully returned to base at sunrise on both occasions.
Throughout these challenging rescues, the Mountain Equipment Tupilak Jackets in our team’s distinctive yellow colour have been indispensable. These reliable and durable shells have been crucial in shielding us from the unpredictable Cairngorm weather while we traverse the hills, often in the middle of the night. The Tupilak Jackets have proven their worth, providing the protection necessary for us to carry out our tasks effectively.
In addition to the Tupilak Jackets, we have also heavily relied on the Mountain Equipment Fitzroy Jackets. These insulated jackets have been a game-changer during extended periods of inactivity, whether we are setting up technical rigging, assembling stretchers, or treating casualties. The Fitzroy Jackets offer the insulation and warmth needed to keep us comfortable and focused on our tasks, even in the harshest conditions.
Overall, the combination of the Tupilak and Fitzroy Jackets has been essential in ensuring our team can perform at its best, regardless of the challenges we encounter. We are incredibly grateful for the support from Mountain Equipment and the quality of their gear, which has made a significant difference in our operations this year.”
Words by Jonny Porteous.
Mountain Rescue Teams often operate in some of the harshest conditions imaginable. They face freezing temperatures, howling winds, and driving rain during their callouts, so their gear must be reliable and effective. These challenging conditions are some of the worst our products could face and serve as an invaluable opportunity for product testing. We actively incorporate feedback from rescue teams into the design of our products, as well as designing some products specifically for their requirements.
