philipshambrook wrote:
Quote:
Longer fell races in the UK usually require a minimum of a warm hat, gloves, a taped-seams waterproof with a built in hood, and taped seam waterproof trousers, a map, compass and emergency food, as a minimum.
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I have no idea what the gear requirements were for this event but it does look like entrants might not have been adequately prepared. Tragic and very sad for all involved.
There's a race in NZ that is held in 'Summer' but as it's an alpine run, starting at one ski field and finishing at another, the altitude means that the weather can change fast. I'm ex northern UK and so have a habit of carrying too much gear after spending most weekends hiking / camping in the peak district or hills of the lakes. But a few years back the weather forecast was for some grim weather, and it was - 140kph wind and -4 windchill. Whilst thankfully no-one got into trouble on the course, and everyone had to carry the taped jackets, proper bivvy bag, long sleeved thermal, a very high proportion of people arrived at the finish not wearing those as they didn't want to lose time putting them on. Even when advised/ told by the marshals.
And so unbelievably, the next year the organiser had to change the rules to make it clear that it was a DQ offence not to put kit on as requested be marshals.
I've crewed for events like this, and I do know that athletes under physical stress stop thinking rationally and do rely on people telling them what to do. And that's why experienced crew are vital for longer distance events of any sort.