Book review – Cairngorm John: A Life in Mountain Rescue (10th Anniversary Edition)
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By John Allen
Published by Sandstone Press
£11.99
John Allen’s original book covering his life as a volunteer and leader of Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team has become indispensable to those who love the hills.
The stories it contains are poignant and full of emotion while at the same time being told from a rational standpoint with detail and care, offering insights not only into the world of mountain rescue but, importantly, into how things can so easily go wrong.
His non-judgmental approach – so common in mountain rescue circles – makes him come across as a modest man, despite his achievements in modernising the team and mountain rescue more widely.
It was refreshing to read them again 10 years on. The original stories still hold so much weight, so much learning and, in some cases, so much sadness. Yet there is wit and humour in between the long rescues and more mundane committee meetings.
However, this 10th anniversary edition is also about the changes since Allen retired from the team – changes in technique and technology, not to mention politics, that have altered the service.
Four short chapters have been added, with some more recent tales of rescues from current team members as well as insights into technological advances. In discussion with them, Allen reaches interesting conclusions about the effectiveness of mobile phone apps, drones, cameras, all-terrain vehicles and more.
Changes in search and rescue operations have also had an impact, and Allen’s successor as team leader Willie Anderson has had his own share of politics to deal with on top of the more immediate issues of an increasing number of rescues.
This 10th anniversary edition definitely has its place alongside the original book, bringing the story of mountain rescue in the Highlands up to date and looking ahead to a world where technology could play an increasing part.
But as Allen wisely points out, the traditional skills of map and compass navigation, alongside good preparation and accumulated experience, still need to be practised by those venturing into the hills. And in terms of mountain rescue, it’s the individual volunteers who really make the difference.
