Why there's a spike in mountain rescue call-outs when the clocks go back

Mountain Rescue has warned hikers in England and Wales of being caught out on the hill after dark when the hour goes back this weekend.

The volunteer group said there is an annual spike in “benighting” incidents - when walkers or climbers need rescuing because they are still on the mountain after nightfall - at the end of October when British Summer Time ends, coinciding with the busy half-term holidays.

Last year, October was the month with the highest average number of rescuer hours, owing to rescues taking longer in the dark. Across the board, the number of mountain call-outs has risen gradually over the last five years, from 1,080 in 2012 to 1,467 last year.

“If you want to get out into the mountains and enjoy the same amount of daylight, you need to set out an hour earlier,” said Rob Shepherd, Mountain Rescue stats officer and a member of the team in Llanberis, Snowdonia, one of the busiest regions in England and Wales for rescues.

“We need more people to understand what we call avoidable incidents. We don’t mean stay at home. We just mean prepare. If you have the necessary equipment and a bit more planning to fall back on, a callout can be avoided.”

He said it was an “inexact science” but that “benighting” incidents are the result of people unable to get off the mountain because of the darkness, whether due to a lack of gear or ill-scheduling.

“How long do you think it will take to do the walk you want to do? Set off earlier, reduce the length of time you want to be out walking, or pack a torch. It’s a simple thing to do and you’re mitigating some of the risk,” he said.

“We’ve gotten to the point where it has changed from mostly light to mostly dark, and with darkness comes cold. You have an increased risk of hypothermia.”

Dr Shepherd said that he and his colleagues will only be called out to assist people who have passed a certain threshold but there is likely a much higher number of people in the background who have not called for help but are “having a terrible time”.

As well as the increased number of call-outs, rescues in the dark take longer, often over six hours, placing strain on the Mountain Rescue volunteers.

Earlier this year Mountain Rescue in Wales launched a Adventure Smart campaign in an effort to stem the rising tide in call-outs. “The campaign’s message is simple: come and enjoy the iconic and beautiful Welsh countryside and coast but take a little time to plan your day,” it said.

Rob Shepherd said that while the advent of smartphones has made it easier for people to complete a hike, over-reliance can be a pitfall.

Earlier this week, it emerged that two walkers rescued in the Cairngorms had strayed more than 17 miles off course after they relied on Google Maps to reach the summit of the second highest mountain in Britain. Rescuers said it was the third time in a row they had been called to rescue hikers using the app to navigate the treacherous Cairngorm Plateau, none carrying a map or a compass.

“We acknowledge that the use of technology in the mountains isn’t going away, and it probably helps with the level of participation, but the most important use of your mobile phone is as a mobile phone,” said Mr Shepherd.

“By all means, have your phone with you, tweet, have fun on the mountain, but remember it is there as a phone, and no substitute for a paper map.”

Working with Mountain Rescue, the mapping agency Ordnance Survey (OS) earlier this year revealed that rescue incidents were up 16 per cent on last year and called on walkers to plan sensibly when heading outdoors.

Ahead of the hour going back, OS has published 10 tips for hikers for autumn and winter, including checking weather conditions, wearing the right clothes and packing plenty of food and drink.