10/04 Lost on Etna
This morning an hotel guest went in excursion. We discouraged him but he was enthusiast to see at least ‘something’.
Weather changed from “bad” to “very bad” with strong winds and snow (yes, snow!).
His wife in hotel was worried so around 3 p.m. I decided to contact cable car station.
Director Mazzaglia was very kind and he immediately sent a car to look up to 3.000 meters.
I called mountain rescue service in Nicolosi (Soccorso Alpino della Guardia di Finanza) which immediately activated his men to find our lost guest.
They found him.
I am happy.
This time everything ended in best way.
It seems he falled and they found him a bit frozen but in good conditions, good enough to come back in hotel on his legs.
In memory of Thomas.
I have to admit that I, too, have undertaken solo excursions. However there is one rule I always apply which is to watch the weather like a hawk! If there’s a serious chance of mist – or worse eg rain, snow, lightning etc I will call it off. On my very first holiday in the Etna area (March 2000) I got as far as the top of the cable-car run – and stopped as there was a lot of heavy cloud around. I tried again the next day: this time the weather was OK and I walked as far as the Torre de Filosofo. Thick mist is VERY dangerous because VERY disorienting! Not a good idea in the neighbourhood of the precipitous Val de Bove.
I will also try and make sure that other people are at least in view. In 2004 I visited a ‘hell-hole’ vent at about 2800m: there were certainly plenty of other people around on that occasion, both tourists and also professional volcanologists setting up an observation station and its solar panels, which was probably a good thing. I do though take plenty of water, a first-aid kit and emergency rations (chocolate, Kendal Mint Cake etc).
Going with a guide or guided party is probably better for peace of mind at the very least. And of course you learn things about current Etna events from a guide which you wouldn’t get on your own. I certainly felt safer with a guide on 11/11/2002, especially as our return was after dark (with a marvellous view of a ‘pillar of fire’ behind!)
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I confess to being a bit torn over this issue of ‘private enterprise’ especially given we live in risk-averse times (at least in the UK). I think myself that as long as you know a reasonable amount about meteorology, how to look after yourself in wilderness conditions and (last but not least!) some idea of volcanic hazards (eg gas including CO2, SO2, phreatic eruptons, possible isolation between lava flows etc) then you will, by and large, be all right. Try also to remember to leave details of where you’re going with someone back at base (eg the Corsaro Hotel).