STAR LETTER: Modern times

How alpinism has changed! Fifty years ago if we got into a mess, we had to get ourselves out of it. Now all you need to do is get out the mobile and call for the helicopter rescue and BMC insurance will pay up - see John Roberts, Summit 46. As an elderly customer of BMC insurance, I pay well over the odds for the privilege. It galls me to think that I, and many other over-70's who still like a bit of modest adventure, are subsidising people like John Roberts who "is a BMC member with a particular talent for getting into scrapes". Meanwhile I and my cautious elderly friends who have never once claimed have to pay up to double the premium. How about a no-claims bonus? However, although each year I pay up through gritted teeth, it is only the BMC insurance scheme that acknowledges retired people are still actively adventurous. Other companies don't want to know.
- Brian Evans, Summit 47

Bare-headed cheek

I'm astonished that in the issue dealing with Via Ferrata that you chose to publish a full page photo that shows a climber not using one item of basic via ferrata safety - a helmet. Every publication on Via Ferrata routes stresses the importance of a helmet. Does the BMC think it knows better? Shame on you.
- David Stephenson, Summit 47

Troutdale turd

I read The Issue in Summit 46 with great interest. I think that it is indeed high time that climbers and outdoor enthusiasts treated the environment with the same precision and enthusiasm they do their kit. I recently spent a fantastic week climbing in the Lakes only to have the classic route of Troutdale Pinnacle ruined by the selfish behaviour of a fellow climber - who had left human excrement on the second pitch. Whoever did such an irresponsible act should not to unreported and climbers should be vigilant to others ruining access and enjoyment at the crags for families and groups alike. I do hope that the BMC will be permitted to take strong action in the future with any similar reported incidents.
- Sallyanne Hutchison, Summit 47

Poor forecast

A weather forecast is essential for safe planning for mountaineers. Unfortunately, for many years weather forecasts for mountain areas have been expensive. But now you can look up free forecasts for several mountain areas. The Met Office is part of the Ministry of Defence and is required by the Treasury to charge wherever possible. Also, a lot of private companies (such as ice cream manufacturers) can profit from better knowledge of coming weather - and the government thinks this somehow entitles it to a share of those profits.

However, government is not a monolith. Those government departments whose job is to promote tourism, agriculture and other industries, as well as those promoting health, sport and exercise, appreciate the safety value of forecasts and want the information locked up inside the Met Office to be made available. In Wales, for example, the Welsh Assembly and the Sports Council for Wales fund the Snowdonia and Brecon Beacons forecasts. This initiative is to be welcomed. Unfortunately the quality of the Met Office service provided in Wales is dire.

The forecasts often fail to appear. When I kept a note for a three-month period, September, October and November 2006, the forecast failed to appear once a month on two consecutive days. There is no space here to detail all the other problems, such as: inconsistent terminology; forecasts cast in terms of what happened yesterday (e.g. “it will be less windy today than yesterday” – which is useless for anyone visiting the area); and, most important, the forecasts for Snowdonia and the Beacons are suspiciously frequently identical.

My reluctant conclusion is that the Met Office service is poor and does not match up to its lavish promises, which means that the Welsh taxpayer is in effect providing an extra subsidy to the Ministry of Defence.
- Paul Gannon, Summit 47

You're making me dizzy

Summit is going from strength to strength, but I have one "grumpy old man" niggle: upside-down climbing photos. It seems that it is often done to unnecessarily sensationalise a move or position and is irritating and not needed. The other magazines do it a lot and Summit only occasionally (Issue 46, page 74). However please don't go down that line - just retain the quality - that's all that is required.
- Tom Dodd, Summit 47