Torridon Mountain Rescue Team

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Training, June 2014, Poolewe

06.01.2014 by Torridon MRT // Leave a Comment

yak_throw_bag__32445_zoom

My previous first aid training had usually finished on the note … “and then I’d call the Mountain Rescue”. So this was going to be fun!!

We were briefed about a horse riding accident up the glen. Thinking this was all hypothetical & setting the scene would be left to our imaginations I set off, only to turn the corner and find 2 REAL horses & riders waiting for us! Duncan took charge and soon gave out instructions. There were lots of new pieces of equipment that I’d never used before. I was so mesmerised by the various bags, splits & oxygen that I probably broke the casualty’s neck ten times over – Best get these things ironed out in training though eh!!

Our second rescue was further up the glen. I was in the second half of the team to arrive at the scene of a mountain bike crash. By the time we got there things were pretty serious and the casualty had to stretchered to an appropriate place for the chopper to collect them. I was given the job of holding the strops bag – which I did, for dear life. As I was still unsure whether we were expecting a real chopper of not after the whole horse thing! We weren’t, but it just went to show how realistic the scenarios were. Not only with the props but by the way people were communicating with one and other. The tone of their voice and the directive commands they were giving. It was my first taste of what a real rescue might be like.

The second half of the day was a bit more chilled (literary) with river rescues. We practised our river crossings where Rod found his limits and our throw bag skills where Duncan showed us his new technique off – not holding on to the other end! It was great fun and lots of lessons had been learnt.

All in all a fantastic day only to be topped off with coffee & cake at the café in Poolewe!

Jenny Graham

Categories // Training

Reflections from a New Recruit, February 2014

02.14.2014 by Torridon MRT // Leave a Comment

New recruit

To be truthful, writing this, I’ve encountered again the same ‘Cold Chill’, now, as when I attended my first Sunday all day training session, nearly one year ago. To my emotional rescue, then, was the comfort that there was at least another six, ‘Fresh Meat’ candidates brave enough to enlist & run the Torridon Mountain Rescue training gauntlet.

The day, the same as all training days since was extremely well organised & structured by all team members involved & for many of us ‘Newbies’, probably shattered or re-in forced any preconceptions that we had. For me, I had some years of hill walking experience & a couple of years involved with mountaineering, so naively & arrogantly, I thought that I would have something to bring to the team!

To elaborate, in the much larger world of the MRT, attention to detail is essential. My whole skill set is now more comprehensive & my techniques continually being honed to a higher level. I have found the whole experience so far, extremely ‘humbling’. The dedication & professionalism of the team members shines through the patience of teaching & the extensive conglomerate of skills of which have to be learned. The sense of team spirit & achievement is infectious & has installed in me a keen motivation to re-attend training sessions and to better myself in something that I really enjoy.

As a recent member to the call-out list, you become immediately aware of your responsibility. All that training isn’t for nothing! The phone can ring at any time! Your new kit should always be maintained & ready for use. Keep your phone on you at all times & charged & hopefully you will arrive on time & at the correct rendezvous point of your call–out.

As a ‘ Fresh Meat, Newbie’ I also have the aid of my own personal Mentor. “Can you make a silk purse out of a Pigs Ear ? “, I might ask (ha!ha!), I’m sure he’ll have an answer for that in his black book!

The TMRT is jam packed full of dedicated professional individuals who give their time for free & I am proud to be part of it.

Rod Winton

Categories // Training

Training, February 2014, Coire an Laoigh, Beinn Eighe

02.02.2014 by Torridon MRT // Leave a Comment

February 2014 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

Categories // Training

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Training

St John Scotland

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Torridon Mountain Rescue Team

4 days ago

Torridon Mountain Rescue Team
CAPE WRATH ULTRAThis time last week it was sunbathing weather on the summits, but oh how quickly that fades into a distant memory!One thing that won't be fading into the memory will be what the competitors of the Cape Wrath Ultra® have achieved over the past week and more. Covering over 400km in 8 days across some of the most challenging terrain in Scotland, the race saw Scotland's full range of weather conditions.When entering, the competitors are given the option to donate to the volunteer Mountain Rescue teams through which the race passes - and we met Shane and Dave of Ourea Events® on the sunny finish line in Kinlochewe to collect the £300 cheque* for Torridon MRT, and see their impressive race setup.A huge thank you to the competitors for their donations towards our team, and to Ourea Events for setting an industry leading example of how commercial events can support and operate alongside volunteer Mountain Rescue teams. We look forward to the next one!*The eagle eyed amongst you will notice this is a reused cheque from last year - and we can't argue with that approach to sustainability!Scottish Mountain Rescue #capewrathultra #cwu2025 #capewrath #capewrathtrail #eventmedical ... See MoreSee Less

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Torridon Mountain Rescue Team is at Bealach na Bà.

2 weeks ago

Torridon Mountain Rescue Team
WESTER ROSS THE PLACE TO BE!It was a busy weekend for the team with Saturday seeing the Bealach Na Ba Cycle Sportive head over the Bealach na Bà, with the team providing First Aid support at key locations around the route. It's fantastic to be able to support these community events, and the team is very grateful for the donations that allow us to operate as a volunteer team.In parallel, Scottish Mountain Rescue were holding a technical rigging course at our base in Torridon, with volunteers from multiple teams across Scotland coming together under the watchful eye of rope wizards, Dave Chapman and Jon Sanders. @cairngormmrt TaysideMRT Cairngorm Adventure Guides @adventure_course_construction Big thanks to the instructors for such an excellent course.All of this critical training uses volunteer time and costs money. As a team, we are totally reliant on public donations. Please consider supporting our vital work at the link in our bio. Thank you.#torridon #bealachnaba #bealachnabà #nc500 #roperescue ... See MoreSee Less

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Torridon Mountain Rescue Team

3 weeks ago

Torridon Mountain Rescue Team
"so you're going to run 55km around these hills and swim 3.5km across five lochs enroute?""Yes!"We are lucky to have some wildly capable people in our team, and this was demonstrated at the weekend by our very own @stretton.sarah who took on a solo, unsupported 'Ring of Stirling' round - the wildest swim/run in the UK. Taking in the Torridon giants and some committing swimming, including across the Diabaig Narrows, Sarah made the most of the recent stable weather to cruise around in style - not even wearing a wetsuit!The round was created in memory of Chris Stirling who loved these rugged landscapes, and competed in multiple @cxtriCeltman triathlons here. Search 'Ring of Stirling' to find out more about the round and get inspired to take it on yourself."All good adventures start in Shieldaig" - Chris Stirling@scottishmountainrescue#ringofstirling#torridon#swimrun#westerross#nc500 ... See MoreSee Less

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       Scottish Mountain Rescue
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