Rather pessimistic view point I reckon. But then in 30 years on the hills my only experience of the rescue teams is being part of several. Lets be blunt. Need ing a team in the Uk is something you have to try very hard to do. getting lost is as near as damn it impossible, just how far can you walk before you hit a road. Sensible gear or route choices means weather isn't an issue and falling off steep ground doesn't happen if you are careful. There are no such things as accidents, just stupidity.
The whole thing is just aprt of our instant, I'll just buy it attitude nowadays. People don't learn over a period of years with mates or a club, they buy a weeks course or learn to climb at a wall and then expect to go out and do something spectacular. Taken to the extreme look at Everest. Buy a trip then sue the guides if it goes wrong!
Each to their own but what i don't like is the fact that we are being pushed into being safe. We have reached the point that cyclists knocked off their bikes but not wearing a helmet are recieving less compensation. How pathetic. The time will come then we will be branded irresopnsible for not having our own electronic security blanket and the next step will be penalties for the same. look how pathetic our legal sysytem is over liability and training. if you haven't got the correct peice of paper nowadays you get hammered. me, I'd rather be out with some one who knows what they are doing than some one who relies on some thing else. This subjectwas addressed a few onths ago on UKclimbing. something. The consensus from many rescue teams was they would rather a few idiots stayed at home rather than buy this kit.
