Lost Horizons

"Insane" mountain trip?

British newspapers are gleefully reporting how a 14 month old baby has been rescued off England’s highest hill Scafell Pike (they don’t have proper mountain’s in England, they leave that for the Scots and the Welsh).

It seems that Mr. Mrs. Naylor, from Cornwall, decided to climb the hill with their 5 year old son and 14 month old baby. On the way back down they got lost in low cloud. Someone spotted that their car hadn’t moved, after sunset, and advised the authorities.

A full blown mountain rescue team was set up with over 40 volunteers and dog handlers, combing the area. The family was found cold and wet at about 4 a.m., but they were unharmed.

Quite naturally the press is full of praise for the rescuers, and I have no issue with that; but of course the parents are receiving the brunt of the bad press with comments such as: “insane", “incredibly irresponsible” and “sheer madness”.

But, what I find refreshing is the families attitude – they gave it a go. Britain needs more parents with that spirit. The weather and the forecast were mild, the baby was in a waterproof papoose, the family were most unlikely to die, — and what an adventure! That little boy will never forget his rescue from Scafell Pike. How much better than the parents who plonk children in front of a television in an overheated lounge and tell them on no account to play outside. I wish my parents had taken me on dangerous climbs. Whewn I was a child, if you couldn't drive there Dad didn’t want to go. Far from being a casualty of parental capriciousness, young Master Naylor is a lucky boy.

posted by Luke @ 3:22 PM