Ben Lairig’s purpose is to develop it’s members and does this by providing organised meets, training (formal & informal), frequent trips to the mountains and
continuously monitoring best practice. But the dangers of mountaineering can change by the hour and even a moderate plan can become a demanding day
out. So when you venture onto the hills remember you are ultimately responsible for you own safety, decisions are made as equals and it’s right to respect all members’ opinions, but never be afraid to say ‘stop’ if you don’t feel right. Nothing we do in the mountains is safe, purely just managed.
Ben Lairig members must recognise that climbing and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities
should be aware of and accept these risk and be responsible for their own actions, including on organised trips, social meets and when practicing skills acquired through the club.

That being said, teamwork is key to any successful day in the mountains because a group relies on each other completely. Look out for your friends by buddy-
checking their gear and help anyone who might be struggling; let no one fall behind and always put the safety needs of others before your own mountaineering ambitions. When using ropes make sure you are comfortable with each other’s ability. Mountaineering is serious business, but it’s very important to have fun! Mountaineers are mountaineers because they enjoy it and being engaged makes learning easy.

Remember To:

• Have all the phone numbers’ of committee on the trip (ask them if they haven’t remembered to offer them out!).
• Refer to the Kit List and make sure you have all the essential equipment.
• Tell committee and your friends where your medication is if you have any, like an EpiPen if you are anaphylactic. Be clear who can legally administer them.
• Stay where you are if you become lost or separated from a group, so they can follow your route plan or retrace their steps to find you.
• Attend the Winter Skills course before joining winter trips.

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Statement on Mountain Leadership

Ben Lairig is a student-led mountaineering club that welcomes members of all experience levels, from complete beginners to seasoned climbers. We offer the opportunity for members to connect with each other to organise and take part in mountain activities, developing their skills and confidence.
However, Ben Lairig is not a guided club.
Committee members are not trained mountain guides and are not individually responsible for the safety or decisions of other members on trips. The club holds a legal and ethical duty of care, which we take very seriously. We oversee everything from trip planning, to navigation, to safety equipment training. We ensure that every member is prepared and capable of managing their own safety on the mountains.
However, all members are expected to take personal responsibility for their actions, and may be held accountable if they act recklessly or ignore safety procedures. This means coming to planning meetings with a route plan, bringing appropriate equipment, and being able to navigate safely through the mountains.
We offer training, support and kit hire throughout the year to support members as they become competent mountaineers. The club aims to foster a supportive community to promote independence and safe participation in mountain activities through careful preparation, communication, and oversight.