Training, February 2014, Coire an Laoigh, Beinn Eighe

The second training session of the year brought what must be a near record turnout but also the promise of a pretty grim forecast. However, they say it’s often the weather which draws the crowds – although I’m not sure this saying has ever been a selling point in Torridon.

Not to be deterred however by the lashing rain the briefing for the day was to head into Coire an Laoigh to the south-east of Spidean Coire nan Clach, on Beinn Eighe to cover avalanche search techniques and practice rope work applicable for covering moderate terrain in winter. The intended venue for the day, Coire na Caime on Liathach, was not a viable option given the conditions and potential for high avalanche risk in the area.

With the poor forecast the helicopter exercise was also cancelled so instead we headed on foot up the well defined track on the flanks of the Allt Coire an Laoigh, filing in behind Gerry who was acting, by his own admission, as pacemaker.

Once high in the corrie conditions were as expected with heavy deposition on the lee (east) slopes and ample snow pack for the intended exercises. The session was headed up by Gill and John who had recently completed an Avalanche Awareness course in Lochaber. The first exercise was to practice using our transceivers. So while the rest of us had a bite to eat Jim was instructed to head off up the hill and bury a transceiver and bag to act as a mock casualty. Without too much fuss all the groups managed to locate the target although it was interesting to see how different models of (searching) transceiver interpret the flux lines emitted by the (buried) transmitting beacon. This can lead to quite different approaches being taken by different searchers. Avalanche transceivers are an essential piece of mountain rescue winter armoury, both as a personal safety device and as a valuable rescue tool for locating a buried casualty.

We then moved on to simulating the search of an area of avalanche debris using probes. Lined out at arms length we carried out an initial coarse search covering a large area and drilled the technique down until we were shoulder to shoulder and able to carry out a more detailed search of a smaller area.

So, having successfully located Jim’s buried sandwiches we split into small groups and climbed up the south east flank of the corrie onto the ridge line. The terrain was pretty moderate, general mountaineering ground and each group chose a different line to follow. Once on the ridge it was straight back down to the glen and the awaiting vehicles.

After a productive days training the whole team assembled back at the base for a presentation to Eoghain Maclean, retiring after 40 years service to Scottish mountain rescue. Eoghain was the former Torridon team leader and we all wish him well for the future.

Mark Edmonds