Lucy Wallace"Do I have the right gear? Do I know what the weather will be like? Am I confident I have the knowledge and skills for the day?"
Dale Harvey@Snoweider I wish experts would focus on teaching people how to safely use a phone. I honestly think the abstinence approach to electronics in outdoors education is putting people in unnecessary danger
@dale I'm not sure that folk need teaching how to use a phone? The article doesn't say don't use your phone but rather, make sure you've got some other tools in your toolbox. Sadly a lot of rescues could be avoided if people had a back up option.
@Snoweider I think they do, the article mentions lost connection and batteries running out. People should have multiple fully charged devices with the route preloaded and available offline. I have never seen an expert say that in one of these "smartphones are bad" articles but imo far safer advice than "use a map and compass"
JanPV@Snoweider And the regular classic: "Do I have the right gear *and* know how to use it properly?" The 'got the gear, but no idea' phenomenon just keeps on going...
Pete Hawkins@Snoweider Succinctly put. Time for a campaign to educate folk in the simple basics of using a map and compass. The old-fashioned military way, still promoted by the OS, is ineffective for everyday hill use. The #NNAS has, I believe, a tried and tested approach. https://nnas.org.uk #navigation
Home - National Navigation Award Scheme
Find the right Navigation award for you. The National Navigation Award Scheme administers National Navigation Awards for both the navigator and the Outdoor Discovery Awards. The NNAs also teaches instructors how to teach map and compass skills.