Patrol the slopes

“I was a member of the Glenshee ski rescue service in the late 1970s representing the team made up of Alyth Venture Scouts,” emails Robert Young. “Our team had regular ‘duty’ weekends, often paired with teams from Aberdeen, Paisley, Edinburgh and Dundee.

“We trained in first aid and carried out ‘mock rescues’ in the Sidlaws and Glenshee out of season. Our task during our weekend was to patrol the slopes and aid any injured skier as appropriate.

“Injuries varied from minor bumps and grazes to major injuries requiring the injured party to be removed from the slope via a ski stretcher. Often we would be required to assist in searches for skiers who had become disorientated having ventured ‘off piste’.

“I recall being on duty when hundreds of skiers and cars were stuck overnight at the ski centre.

“Our base for the duty weekend was the Old Schoolhouse which was within striking distance of the Spittal of Glenshee Hotel. Myself and fellow team members were relatively cash-strapped at that time but, occasionally, we would venture down to Ma Flemings at Dalnoid for one of her legendary high teas.

“The ski patroller pretty much had to patrol the slopes all day regardless of the conditions,which could range from brilliant blue sky to horizontal snow in gale force winds. As long as the lifts were running and people were on the slopes, we remained on patrol.

“I recall that on the same day I was presented with my badge (I had passed all the tests), my first task with my colleague was to remove an unfortunate skier who had decided to tackle the infamous Tiger run but had become stuck on the head wall and ‘froze’ refusing to venture further up or down.

“We managed, with a bit of persuasion, to rescue the poor skier and accompany them to the bottom. The head wall on the Tiger in icy conditions was not for the faint-hearted.”

Rescue service badge. See above.