Mountain Rescue — Florrie Barber

Social media has expanded our image of the world, popularising wilderness in a world of mass over development. Society is now driven by a ‘want’ for; encompassing themselves within nature. Subsequently creating a boom in the adventure and mountaineering community worldwide. Running parallel to this boom, is an increased amount of accidents and tragedies happening within the British hills. This is partly due to; under preparation and underestimating mother nature. Otherwise overestimating ability, potentially due to viewing extravagant achievements by Instagram users believing it is easy as swiping through a feed. That moment of realisation of the danger, you are in or the help you desperately need, is the point in time when the ‘superheroes’ of Mountain Rescue come out to play.

Up and down the UK there are 71 Mountain Rescue Teams in operation, each one of these being volunteer based charities. Working 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to ensure the safety of the nation within the hills. Economically, these teams are saving the British government millions each year, by carrying out these arduous rescue jobs, for free. Whilst in alpine countries such as France, annually it costs this government on average £60M to supply this same service, provided in the UK for Free.

Two different rescue organisations work within the UK; Mountain Rescue England and Wales, and Scottish Mountain Rescue. Two prominent teams from both segments are captured here in their element, – Keswick MRT of the Lake District National Park, and Scottish team Braemar MRT, from the Cairngorms National Park. Observing them at work over the cold dark winter period of short days and frost bitten night time rescues. In aim to understand the limits these volunteers go to in aid of helping others. Whilst giving up important events in their life’s in lieu of reaching a call out. Their weekends often lost in the pursuit of training, to ensure competency whilst rescuing, to not be a danger to themselves or casualties. On a whole, these ‘heroes’ are infatuated with the mountains, simply wanting to give back what they have taken out.

Dr William Brown-Kerr of Braemar MRT, recalled a winter he spent every free moment and unfree one he had, searching for a body of a climber. In want to aid the family in finding some peace, (never closure). Taking until mid-June when the final snow thawed to recover the body. I had a want to find why they do this? In aid understanding and displaying the importance of the work they do, to an audience.

“We get to wear red jackets, drive Land Rovers with the blue lights on from time to time - how could it not be fun?” Leader Chris Higgins of KMRT