[Doug]

That’s a good point spuggie; I don’t think people appreciate how important basic map reading and navigational skill are. There’s too much reliance on GPS systems these days that can fail in extreme weather conditions and even under thick low laying cloud cover, some don’t even carry spare batteries etc. A lot of folk are misled in to believing that there’s an abundance of clear paths out there but don’t seem to appreciate that the weather can obscure the best of them, ten minutes walking in the wrong direction or wandering off the path altogether in bad weather can be enough to result in the Mountain Rescue Teams being scrambled. All too often it’s the misuse of brain power that results in even the best equipped walkers ending up in trouble or dead because they tried to carry on in bad conditions instead of digging in and sitting it out.