Mountain climbers are unwittingly risking their lives by setting off without any preparation, the Irish Mountain Rescue Association warned today.
Rescuer Gerry Christie said some people start hikes with no plan, late in the day and even without checking the weather forecast.
The IMRA last year responded to 214 call-outs, assisting 265 climbers in need.
A further 13 bodies were recovered, including a British family whose light aircraft crashed in the Wicklow mountains last October.
Mr Christie, of Kerry Mountain Rescue Team, said planning and preparation were essentials for mountain safety.
“There is a degree of foolishness in the mountain,” said Mr Christie. “People take the mountain for granted and don’t realise how dangerous it can be or grasp how quickly things can go from being normal to dangerous.
“It is important to recognise that, although they are physically easy to access and are not high by international standards, the mountains of Ireland in both summer and winter provide serious and challenging terrain.”
Figures for 2008 revealed over half of all call-outs occurred at weekends, particularly on a Sunday.
A rescue helicopter was used in 21 rescues, with 30 people carried to safety on a stretcher across an average 2.2km.
While more than 20 people were seriously injured, four out of 10 people had suffered lower limb injuries.
The dead included Bristol man Sharif Booz, the pilot of the small plane which vanished over the Co Wicklow, his Irish wife Margaret, their teenage son Ayman and his friend Charles Froud (14).
But Mr Christie said many deaths in the mountain are medically related and would probably have occurred outside of the hills.
Up to 350 volunteers man the 12 mountain teams which operate across Ireland, with two in the North and 10 in the Republic. Between them they gave around 14,200 hours to search and rescue calls with training and fundraising almost doubling that time.
Walkers and mountaineers were warned to pay heed to weather forecasts, wear appropriate clothing, and be well equipped.
“The ability to navigate accurately and efficiently in low visibility in all terrain is the single most important skill a hill-goer can possess,” added Mr Christie.
“Don’t allow your ambition to exceed your ability. If things do go wrong, above all else stay calm, think clearly, and think logically.”
PA