Safety alert after mountain rescue
Walker was‘very lucky’
Hillwalkers in Perth and Kinross have been issued a safety warning after a woman had to be rescued off Ben Chonzie.
Jess Smith, who lives at the base of the popular Munro, witnessed the rescue unfolding.
She is surprised more people have not been getting into trouble in the hills as the past year has seen crowds flocking to Glen Lednock to enjoy the Perthshire scenery.
Jess said that in a normal year, there are usually around five or six cars parked up but during the pandemic she has seen over 100 cars arrive in one day.
Experienced hill walker Jess, who along with husband Dave, has over 200 Munros under her belt, knows all too well the dangers of being caught out on the mountain.
She said the girl was very lucky. She told our sister title the Strathearn Herald: “I know how easily things can change up a mountain.
“It doesn’t matter what time of year it is - if things take a turn for the worst and you’re not equipped for that then you’re at the mercy of the weather, and Scotland always has a wee surprise waiting for you. “I’m just glad she was OK.”
Jess was first alerted after a police officer turned up outside her house looking for a way up the mountain in his car.
She said: “He turned on his blue lights in the hope the girl would see them but she wouldn’t have seen them from where she was.
“Thankfully the mountain rescue people were on their way and within half an hour three well equipped lads arrived from Blairgowrie and Aberfeldy to meet the young policeman who had earlier turned back due to the dangerous track.
“The weather was way below freezing and the snow was hard packed into ice rinks underfoot.
“It became worrying thinking the lassie had ventured off a lesser track in the dark and was lost and freezing numb.”
Jess’s neighbour and the local gamekeeper also assisted in the search, and thanks to SARLOC technology, which can help to locate lost walkers and climbers if they can manage to get a phone signal, the girl was found and talked down to the path where she was met by the rescue team.
Jess added: “In other circumstances we would have had her in for a hot drink and warmed her limbs by the fire but COVID stopped that. Mountain rescue looked after her though.”
The call out was the 51st of 2020 for Tayside Mountain Rescue.
A spokesperson for the team, which is made up entirely of volunteers, said: “Thanks again to Invergeldie Estate for their continued support.
“Winter is definitely here. Please make sure you have the proper equipment - most importantly a map and a compass - and know how to use them - technology doesn’t always work in a mountain environment.”