Experienced climber calls for greater safety measures following tragic deaths
The Examiner wrote:Mountain climber John Carswell calls for safety chains to be placed in steep stretches of dangerous mountain tracks in Tasmania.
But even someone as experienced as Mr Carswell can see the need for better safety in the Tasmanian mountains.
"At Cradle Mountain, Federation Peak and Frenchman's Cap there are short but dangerous sections of track where there have been fatalities in the past," Mr Carswell said.
"I said in July there would continue to be fatalities and now there has been one, and nothing's been done about it."
Mr Carswell suggested a simple and cheap alternative: installing 10 to 30 metres of anchored chains that climbers could hang onto while climbing steeper sections of the tracks.
He said it was a common practice in Europe, called via ferrata, or iron path, which involves climbing with the chain.
"You can choose not to, but they're put there for people that feel unsafe on that sort of ground ... the man that died at Federation Peak [December 31] would probably still be alive if those chains had been installed," Mr Carswell said.
"I've climbed Federation Peak three times - I haven't taken any special precaution because I consider myself a competent climber, but if there were chains there, I'd be hanging on to them."
A government spokesperson said in response to any serious accident, the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service examines the circumstances and considers whether improvements can be made to prevent similar incidents in the future.
"That process examines the condition and classification of the track and its markings, and the presence of information and hazard warning signage," they said.
"The Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service continues to encourage visitors to our parks to choose a walk that matches their capabilities and carry the appropriate safety and walking equipment.
"That includes physical maps, a first aid kit, a portable battery bank, adequate food and water, and clothing suitable for all weather types. We also encourage the use of a Personal Locator Beacon."
Don't ruin the wilderness because people die. Yes, it is tragic. But you can't wrap the entire world in cotton wool. People will make mistakes and die, and sometimes people will die even when they do everythibng right and even when all safety measures are in place. There will still be tragic accidents. It's terrible, but it's life.
We could ban people from walking out of their front doors, but some of us will still trip over our own cushy sofa and break our necks on the coffee table.
Educate people about the risks and let people take responsibility for their own safety, but don't build safety rails through the wilderness. (Yes, I know that there are already safety chains on Hansons Peak and Marions Lookout.)
