History - A Free Frontline Emergency Service Provided by Unpaid Volunteers For Over Sixty Years.

The early days.

Glencoe was one of the crucibles of the developing pastime of mountaineering in the late Victorian era. The few climbing accidents in the early years were dealt with by local shepherds, climbers and Scottish Mountaineering Club members. They’d be summoned by telegraph or BBC Radio from Glasgow and Edinburgh. In 1925 there is record of a busload of Glencoe and Ballachulish men from the slate quarries who went to Beinn Achalader to help search for a missing hill walker. One early example of an organised local team.

Hamish MacInnes

In 1959 Hamish MacInnes came to live in the Glen and in 1961 was instrumental in forming the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Association. He was to serve as team leader for more than thirty years and become an internationally renowned rescue expert, developing equipment and techniques in Glen Coe. The workhorses of the team were the local shepherds, the Elliot brothers and Huan Findlay. They swapped their hird laddies and crummocks for ice axe and crampons to become accomplished mountaineers. Technical climbing skills were provided by some of Scotland’s finest climbers working as instructors at the climbing schools set up by MacInnes and Ian Clough.

The last sixty years have seen many changes. The minutes of the 1962 Annual General Meeting show an income of forty one pounds eight shillings and six pence. Today we spend over £80,000.00 per year. Over the years we have acquired a purpose built headquarters, ATV’s, command vehicles, boat and a host of related equipment. All members are equipped with the very best gear available. In the early years we dealt with a dozen incidents per year, now we handle up to eighty.

Communications & Medical

In the 1960s we had no radios; today all of our members have at least one handheld set each. With five hill top repeater stations powered by wind and solar, this gives us massive radio coverage. We’re also backed up by a satellite phone, there are a number of areas within the mountains that do not get any network coverage. This enables us to communicate with doctors and trauma specialists further afield.

Membership of Glencoe Rescue stands at thirty, all prepared to turn out in any conditions. We aim to have vehicles leaving our centre within six minutes of receiving a call. Rudimentary first-aid has given way to advanced medical intervention helping the injured high on the hills. Our medical team now consists of a doctor, two paramedics and is also supported by our `CAS CARE’ qualified members. ‘CAS CARE’ members are trained to a high standard to deal with mountain trauma and administering drugs.

We wish to thank all who have generously donated to our charity; without your help we could not provide this vital emergency service.