Mountain mischief: Climber fined for raising false alarm

Here’s another one to put in the “what was he thinking?” column.

Paul Manchester, an experienced climber from Chesire, England, was handed a fine yesterday of £600, or roughly $1,000, for his huge lapse in judgement while climbing a Scottish mountain last February. Manchester, along with nine of his friends, climbed the 3,218-foot Slioch in the Scottish Highlands on February 9. Upon reaching the summit, Manchester stomped the word “HELP” in huge 12-foot letters in the deep snow, despite the perfect weather conditions and the perfect condition of his climbing party. It was intended to be a joke, of course.

At least one member of the party had the good sense to ask, “What if someone sees it?” But the group continued their descent anyway.  Meanwhile, observant bed-and-breakfast owners Tom and Liz Forrest, noticed the beacon from four miles away and contacted authorities.

The Torridon Mountain Rescue Team promptly launched a search, including calling in a coast guard helicopter. Not 40-minutes later, as the search team ascended the mountain for the ‘rescue,’ they ran into the guilty climbers. The search was immediately called off when Manchester admitted to making the false call for help, but not before £5,500  ($9,000) was wasted on the rescue team and helicopter. Oops.

To his credit, Manchester has taken full responsibility for his prank-gone-wrong, offering a sheepish apology to the rescue team and an additional £2,000 donation on top of his fine.

“It’s very embarrassing and I’m full of regret. I’ve not been up a mountain since.” – Manchester Evening News