We all do stupid things in the mountains and then there are the stupid things that strain credulity. Yesterday Paul Manchester, an experienced British climber from Cheshire, was fined 600 or roughly $1,000 for sheer stupidity.
Back on February 9, the 47-year-old Manchester, a veterinarian by trade, climbed 3,218-foot Slioch above Loch Maree in the Scottish Highlands. It was rare clear and sunny day in the mountains, an absolutely perfect day for tramping up a Highland peak. Manchester, climbing the peak with nine climbing club buddies, told the Dingwell Sheriff Court in Scotland at his hearing, "It was a beautiful day with blue skies and no wind. We were having a great time."
That great time began to sour after the group reached the mountain summit. Exhilarated by the mountain air and the day's beauty, Mr. Manchester, a bit of a trickster, pulled an adolescent prank and stamped out the word "HELP" in massive 12-foot-high letters in the pristine snow. "Coming back down we were making deep tracks in the snow and just in the spur of the moment as a joke among friends I thought I would spell out the word 'HELP,'" he told the court. "There was no intention of a hoax."
One of the party asked the sensible question, "What if someone sees it?"But the blokes decided that no one would see the mischief and began their descent. Four miles away, however, bed-and-breakfast owners Tom and Liz Forrest spotted the four-letter word and rightly rang authorities.
Within minutes the Torridon Mountain Rescue Team as well as a coast guard helicopter were called out and on their way to Slioch. The rescue team, ascending the mountain a scant 40 minutes after the prank, spotted the descending climbers and one rescuer asked them if they knew of an emergency up higher. Sheepishly, Paul Manchester admitted that he knew something about it and confessed, "'Yes, I did it.' I was immediately distraught - more so when he said the police were involved and that they had actioned a helicopter."
The search was immediately called off but not before 5,500 or $9,000 was spent mobilizing the helicopter and rescuers. Manchester was, of course, distraught and remorseful for his dumb actions. Local authorities charged him with culpable and reckless conduct but he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of breach of the peace.
Yesterday Manchester was fined 600. He apologized to the rescue team and offered to make a donation of 2,000 or $3,200. They turned it down but asked that the money be given instead to the local Highland Hospice, which lost over a million dollars in the past year that had been invested in a failed Icelandic bank in the financial crisis.
While Paul Manchester did an inexcusable, stupid, and adolescent action by raising a false alarm, he did the adult thing by taking responsibility for his actions. As he told the court, "It's very embarrassing and I'm full of regret. I've not been up a mountain since."
Photograph top: Paul Manchester leaving court after pleading guilty to mountain mischief. Photograph courtesy Manchester Evening News. Photograph bottom: Dont write HELP in the snow unless you really need it! Photograph courtesy Mail Online
Comments
Ugh! Poor stupid bastard… it sounds like he was remorseful, though, and truly understands the potential consequences of his “prank,” not only the financial burden but – worse – in endangering the lives of rescuers. Sad that he hasn’t been on a mountain since, though. Perhaps he fears the karmic aspects of his actions…
People’s ignorant actions never cease to amaze me….. I mean, come on, why didn’t this fella tramp a huge peace sign, a simple “hello”, or perhaps “I need a pint”? Now that would be funny. There is however, nothing funny about huge letters spelling help on a mountain snowfield. Didn’t this chap ever hear about the boy who cried wolf? Perhaps the mountains are a fool’s paradise after all! At least the poor fella one respite was claiming responsibility for his total ignorance. One can bet however he won’t be recounting this story repeatedly to his mates at the pub!
Please note;;;; I have not spoken with the Mail regarding this incident therefore quote is wrong, I am not an ex policeman, this is also innacurate, I did however witness this halfwit write “help” on the slopes of Slioch.
The fine was a disgrace, he could have put MRT volunteers and chopper crew lives at risk had the writing not been seen immediately it was written.The message was clearly visible the following day, imagine the massive search which could have ensued had the act not been witnessed the day before. This idiot should have been jailed and at least the cost of call out billed to him. A vet,obviously no common sense. His comments in his original plea stated that anyone who thought this was anything other than a joke was being stupid,
we live in this mountain environment, we do not take this sort of message lightly.
Thanks for your correction, Tom. I greatly appreciate you setting the facts straight. I got my info from several sources, which had erroneous info. I agree, the fine was a mere pittance. He should have been responsible for the entire cost of the aborted rescue. Having done some rescue work myself, I know the danger that those lads put themselves in. Great job that you noticed and called it in. That’s taking responsibility, not being a half-wit.
Have just noticed another mistake,Paul Manchester is not Scottish but from deepest darkest Englandshire. We Highland Scots respect our mountains and having been involved in many rescue missions in these mountains am fully aware of dangers. Behaviour such as Manchesters unfortunately give those who would wish to see more controlled access in the Scottish mountain added ammunition.
Pretty silly behaviour, but he was roundly punished for it.
One thing that always annoys me in this type of affair is how everyone always wrings their hands about the horrible risk to the rescuers. In my experience, SAR team members absolutely LOVE, fight for and obsess over these opportunities.
Hoax or not, it’s ridiculous to claim they’d have it any other way. I’m a little tired of the relentless hero-worship so popular these days. Merely signing on to be a rescuer/policeman/fireman/whatever doesn’t make one worthy of, nor guarantee adulation.
At least it shouldn’t.
I agree. He was punished for it. But I have to disagree with your assessment about the risk to rescuers. Most SAR folks do like to rescue those in need, but they also have to temper their enthusiasm with the danger.
Over 20 years ago, I had a good friend, Albert Dow, who died in a winter rescue of a couple young climbers who were lost on Mount Washington in New Hampshire. Albert died in an avalanche during the search. One of those young climbers named Hugh Herr lost both his legs but used his second chance at life to help create the new prosthetic limbs that have changed the lives of amputees.
But Albert’s death still hurts his friends, after all these years, but he knew the risks and the danger and he was willing to assume them, not for adulation or glory, but because he cared. In my book that makes him a hero.
Ah.
“he was willing to assume them [the risks], not for adulation or glory, but because he cared.”
Yet you want to crown him with that adulation & glory? Why, if he really didn’t seek it?
See, I think heroism lies in one’s response to UNEXPECTED circumstances. I don’t think you can buy it by signing up for sexy duty, even if that duty happens to be dangerous. SAR is not entirely altruistic.
The loss of Albert was undoubtedly extremely painful & difficult for those who cared for him. He sounds like he was a good guy.
But I don’t believe Albert felt no payoff from SAR other than the thrill of helping others survive. He could have worked in a soup kitchen if that were all he was looking for.
Hugh seems rather more the hero in this story, dedicating his later life to such a noble goal with broad implications for many people beyond his lifetime.
I disagree with characterizing Mr. Herr as more the hero. Hugh and his climbing partner foolishly cached their emergency equipment (including a compass) behind and headed into deteriorating weather all in an attempt to summit Mt. Washington. As a direct result, they got lost, which ultimately put Mr. Dow in harm’s way. I see nothing heroic in making poor choices that caused the death of Mr. Dow, regardless of what Mr. Herr achieved in his life afterwards.