Any form of adventure, particularly mountain or rock climbing, should be coupled with expertise and a fit body. Still some mountains are more treacherous than others, like those in Scotland where the mountainside, the traverse to the peaks and the countryside pose perilous journeys. True, many mountain climbers, hikers and natural scientists who brave peaks and the surrounding areas do have the technology needed to find their way, but improper and lack of basic knowledge on using such technologies still pose dangers for their activities.
To ensure mountain climbers in their adventure, they will now be given lessons on how to make use of their global positioning system (GPS) gadgets. This came after reports of experts on mountain safety piled up that climbers continue to endanger themselves with insufficient knowledge of the GPS device.
The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) will be running a series of training courses to equip the climbers and walkers with the right know-how in using their GPS devices. From the basic uses to more advanced applications of their GPS, participants to the training will then be equipped with tools such as getting grid reference. Also, the courses from the council will include using of GPS tools to navigate through mountains, water forms and other areas adjacent to the peak they are hoping to climb. This way, the council hopes to keep climbers and hikers from getting lost and becoming disoriented, and give them advanced information about where they are headed, as well as optional routes they may take.
Some people disagree with the move to advance knowledge on GPS as a mountaineering tool, arguing that the map and compass has been tried and tested for decades, and proved enough for people who love the adventure. Still, many welcome the idea as essential for every mountain climber’s safety.
For more ideas on this, click here scotsman.com Additional information is also available here
Scotland on Sunday