What’s in your Rucksack?
What’s in your Rucksack?
We ask 5 Mountain Rescue Team Members to tell us their favourite item of kit
My favourite bit of kit is my Livvy’s bivvy. This is a life saving bit of kit that weights next to nothing, stays in my rucksack all year round and is multicoloured!! In addition to vital lifesaving bit of kit it is also good for having your lunch in if it is poor weather and makes a great talking point when doing mountain safety talks in schools!!
Kev Mitchell, Ochils Mountain Rescue Team and Scottish Mountain Rescue Vice-Chair
“One of my new favourite bits of kit is a Kula Cloth, which is a reusable pee cloth. It’s easily washable and anitmicrobial, so very handy for long days, or several days, on the hill. It’s great not having to ‘drip-dry’ anymore, and it saves lots of tissues being carried in, and hopefully out! Plus the nice designs look funky on the outside of your rucksack.”
Kirsty Pallas, Oban Mountain Rescue Team
“My go to piece of kit is my Rab Vapour Rise Alpine Jacket. A cracking mid layer jacket that provides warmth from standing around ice climbs in Norway to searching in miserable weather for a missing person in Scotland.”
Paul Russell, Tayside Mountain Rescue Team
“As well as being an MRT member I am also a keen climber, skier, and mountain biker. One item I never leave out of my rescue rucksack is my PHD Alpha belay jacket. This is a big, warm jacket that I can put on over everything and is designed for temperatures down to -10 deg. It has a waterproof shell and massive hood, so if I’ve stopped for a bite to eat or sat waiting for something (which happens a lot in MR!) I know I won’t get cold.”
Jamie Greig, Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Team and Scottish Mountain Rescue Equipment Officer
“It may seem strange to most but the favourite item in my rucksack is search dog Kim’s working harness and toy! I spend most weekends venturing into the mountains, mostly on my own, however I am never alone as Kim is always by my side. Kim is a working dog, a border collie, always ready 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, volunteering to assist our mountain rescue teams save lives. I therefore always carry the tools she requires to work in case we are called. Kim’s harness, turns her from my pet enjoying the mountains into the amazing search and rescue dog she is. Please remember if you are venturing into our mountains on your own, leave a route card, let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.”
Moira Weatherstone, Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team and Scottish Mountain Rescue Treasurer