All the gear, no idea

All the gear, no idea.

The phase comes from a group based in the North West for whom I have a great respect for, it sums up those who buy all the extra gear, yet have no idea how use it.. This story concerns 2 lads who had spent considerable time and money kitting out there truck capable of doing anything. They had been on various play-days and had proved with aggressive tires, and a hi-lift kit that their truck could get though everything. Yet play-day venues tend to be artificial, with ready to hand access to recovery equipment. Greenlanes in my opinion is the real world, lanes can be tougher and more remote, as these lads were going to find out.

It was the end of Llyn Aled, this lane always amazes me as to the number of incidents that have happen to me over the years. The group got to the end and despite the warning, the lads went off determined to get to the boat house. At great speed they flew onto the bog, and got further than anyone I know, yet as usual the further you get is often the deeper you go, and this was no exception. They sank like a rubber brick, slow at first, but with all wheels spinning faster as they tired to no avail to get outThen I began to get worried, its not muddy bog, but water with clumps of reed grass sticking out, within a few minutes the water line was up to the mirrors. The lads glazed in amazement unable to open the doors, instead squeezed though the windows and to their horry slipped into the bog, up to there chests, arms flat, making absolutely no head way.

This was late November, but up here more like mid-winter, there was a biting wind, the ground almost freezing with little or no sun to warm it up during the day, the cold water coupled with lack of suitable clothing soon took there toll on the two very frightened lads. In the very fast fading light, the some of the group, realised the seriousness of the situation. They gathered around and started a rescue plan, but despite linking tow ropes together were unable to reach the two men who were unable to move without sinking further in the swamp. The bog in places had turned to quicksand and was sucking them in. Its a strange situation to be in, unable to swim because its too thick, but also unable to get a decent footing as there is no hard surface. The shock of the cold water had taken there toll, they were by now clinging to the reed grass clumps, They started to panic requesting a quicker response from the rest of the group, some of which were still taking photos. The truck itself had only the cab showing and a good several feet away from the men.

Then as always someone who had bright idea, why not use the bonnets seats etc as rafts or stepping stones, within seconds two Series bonnets where thrown into position and a lightest of the group, a brave young lad of about 12, had thrown a rescue rope to one of the lads. It took a considerable effort to pull him out, then the ladies of the group took great delight in administrating first aid and mountain survival techniques. (striping him off).The second lad proved to be more of a problem, they got a rope to him, but every attempt ended in him almost drowning, he was now because of exposure more panicky. He had not the strength to help himself and we not the strength to pull him out, he ended up clinging for dear life on the clumps of grass. The decision was made to use a truck to pull him out, although some members of the group were not happy with this, but time was of the essence and thankfully that’s what we did .The two lads were rapped up in towels and spare clothes, placed in a warm truck, quickly recovered non too worse for there ordeal, by now it was dark so we abandoned the truck and gave them lift home.

On the following Tuesday we returned to the bog, getting to the truck was easy there was about 4 inches of ice surrounding the vehicle, thick enough to walk on. It took two tractors to pull it out at a cost of £300.

Posted by Greenlaners at 18:40 0 comments