Avalanche victims were with mountain guide company
March 1, 2010 by Dave Hewitt · 3 Comments
Buachaille Etive Mor. Picture: James Hearton
The two men who died in last week’s avalanche on Buachaille Etive Mor were an instructor and a course member with Sheffield-based mountaineering company Jagged Globe. The names of the deceased are expected to be released later today. A second Jagged Globe client descended the hill safely.
The party had reached the 1022-metre summit via a grade II winter route known as Curved Ridge. “They were joined by a an instructor and a climber from another organisation,” reads the Jagged Globe statement.
“Both teams walked off together from the summit, following the usual descent route to the west. At the head of Coire na Tulaich, the instructors assessed and discussed the conditions below and opted to descend the north-north-east ridge.”
This ridge is regarded as the safest way down the north side of a notoriously steep and awkward hill. The usual summer route is by Coire na Tulaich, to the east of ridge used by the party last Wednesday but this has a steep headwall and has been the scene of several fatal accidents.
The Jagged Globe statement notes that the north-north-east ridge “is a walking descent, not requiring the use of ropes”, but that “a small area of snow gave way and knocked the two members of the Jagged Globe party off their feet. Sadly, they were unable to stop their slide.”
Jagged Globe was established in 1987 and describes itself as “widely recognised as world-leader in providing mountaineering expeditions, treks and courses for over two decades”. It organises many climbs and treks in the high ranges, and also runs regular one-to-one and one-to-two instructed climbing weeks in the Scottish Highlands, summer and winter.
Asked whether Jagged Globe would review its procedures and risk assessments following the accident, managing director Simon Lowe told The Caledonian Mercury: “Absolutely, we will be asking someone to do a review.”
Lowe described the avalanche as “a freak accident”, and said that the party involved had studied the forecasts for the area before leaving for the hill.
“They checked the weather and avalanche forecasts in great detail. Jagged Globe studies snow conditions in the context of ongoing experience, both of the previous days’ mountaineering and also going back to the start of the season.”
The first indication that Jagged Globe was involved came in the STV teatime news bulletin for 25 February, the day after the accident. (The bulletin is available online until 26 March, and the avalanche segment starts after 3 minutes 20 seconds.)
There was however no statement from Jagged Globe until today, five days after the accident, even though the STV report had named Jagged Globe and shown one of their vans parked beneath the Buachaille on the day in question.
The Caledonian Mercury contacted Jagged Globe this morning, asking for confirmation that the company had been involved. The company then released their statement soon after midday, noting that “To respect the wishes of the families and next-of-kin (some of whom were overseas at the time of the accident and needed to be located), we have not been able to confirm the details of this accident until now.”
Fourteen years ago another mountain guide working for Jagged Globe died in an avalanche in the Glen Coe area. In February 1996, a 42-year-old guide died following a fall of 180 metres after having been caught in a windslab avalanche on Dinnertime Buttress on the north-west face of Aonach Dubh.
The names of the two climbers who died last Wednesday have now been released by Northern Constabulary. The Jagged Globe instructor was Christopher Walker, 29, from Keswick. The client was Robert Pritchard, 37, from New Malden in Surrey.
Here is the Jagged Globe statement:
Accident in Scotland, 1 March 2010
It is with great sadness that we confirm that a Jagged Globe Instructor and one course member were killed whilst descending from Buchaille Etive Mor on Wednesday 24th February 2010.Accompanied by one other course member, they had made a successful ascent of Curved Ridge. An instructor and climber from another organisation were climbing the route at the same time. Both teams walked off together from the summit, following the usual descent route to the west. At the head of Coire na Tulaich, the instructors assessed and discussed the conditions below and opted to descend the north-north-east ridge.
The NNE Ridge is the established alternative descent route when it is suspected that snow in the coire may be unstable. It is a walking descent, not requiring the use of ropes.
At a location beyond Point 902 metres, a small area of snow gave way and knocked the 2 members of the Jagged Globe party off their feet. No one else was affected. Sadly, they were unable to stop their slide.
The remaining instructor and climbers joined forces and walked down the mountain hoping to find the climbers relatively unscathed. Sadly that was not to be and we are grateful to them for alerting mountain rescue.
Our deepest sympathies and thoughts are with the families at this immensely sad time. It has been upsetting and harrowing for all, but our first and last thoughts are with the families of the men who died.
To respect the wishes of the families and next-of-kin (some of whom were overseas at the time of the accident and needed to be located), we have not been able to confirm the details of this accident until now.
We would like to thank all members of the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team who attended the scene, our Instructors and the climbers who all remained in Scotland and offered invaluable support.
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- Questions after fatal Alton Towers trip crash A 17-year-old student killed in a coach crash at Wiston...
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It’s hard in business to be expert at everything, especially when a relatively small business is involved and a colleague has been lost.
My comments below are offered in a helpful spirit in case if this sort of accident happens again. I really hope with all my heart that it doesn’t.
Working in PR, I’ve often found that companies feel they have to wait until they’ve handled the situation before they speak out, whereas the world needs to know that everything is being done to prevent a repeat. To know that any company involved is taking the situation seriously, and is taking credible action, possibly aligned with a trusted external body. If you do that fast, it often enhances an organisation’s reputation, but the converse is usually true if you delay.
As I understand it, the cat was out of the bag about the accident and the company name. It is possible to be there to demonstrate both concern and competence – but explain you are not giving out names until relatives have been informed.
A faster response would certainly have spared the pointed media comments: “…no statement from Jagged Globe until today, five days after the accident…”
Preparation and risk calculation at the heart of good practice outdoors – and that same approach is needed when it comes to managing business reputation.
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The Curved Ridge is the easiest of the rock routes on the Buachaille, and I have often used it as a fast solo descent route. In winter, of course, it becomes a completely different proposition. However, the party negotiated it safely, and the accident occurred on the relatively simple descent route chosen. I can understand why they avoided the Coire na Tulaich, which due to erosion from overuse is no longer a pleasant descent route, even in summer. To judge from the published reports there was no serious incompetence involved, the only open question in my mind being whether they should have been roped up on the descent under winter conditions. That is a matter of judgement on the spot, and having got off with a lot myself in such circumstances I would hesitate to pass judgment on those involved.
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