At the end of May I did a couple of days work with Rescue Medics up at Glencoe Mountain Resort (http://www.glencoemountain.co.uk/) to help cover a downhill mountain bike event. I arrived pretty late, having driven down from Skye. The pop-up tent was thrown out, and the sleeping bag and karrimat went in and that was that.
Next morning was the regular start of a Rescue Medics job. Setting up the base medical tent, drawing radios and other gear and loading a basket stretcher with immediate response equipment. Then things took a turn for the unusual, as I commuted to work by chairlift for the first time ever. Joe and Chris, being veteran ski patrollers thought nothing of this but a first for me.
Stretcher with kit in front with Medic Chris just behind
The course is steep, well it does thread down through a ski area, so we were relying largely on leg power to get around the hill and get any casualties off the hill. On one occasion I did find myself having to go a good way up the hill and had to take onboard my energy gels to reach an incident. After the shift, I decided to head down to the Climbers’ Bar at the Kingshouse…only to find that the hotel was shut for renovations! Although there is a pop up café and a lot of new accommodation, compared to 25-odd years ago, and the venison burger was grand, it lacked the scent of wet yak and the feeling one was communing with the shades of Creagh Dhu members (see Mountain Days and Bothy Nights and Creagh Dhu Climber).
However, I was fairly impressed with the Glencoe Mountain Resort. Good camping area and lots of options and an excellent bar with a range of food. As ever, SDA looked after us well with lunch and hot drinks.
I am a palaeobiologist in my early 40's carrying out research work. I am based in Scotland.
Hills of Hame 
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