During the 70s there was a low-key debate about the mountain safety. Many, not least the commercial companies gave home-made instruction how to stay safe in the mountain environment. This often related to a product they where selling. It was more from a perspective from the sender rather than for those who had the need of the information. The Swedish Tourist association and the Swedish outdoor association was the ones who tried to coordinate the safety information during this time. The poster” Respect for the mountains” originates from this era.

In the end of the 70s three serious mountain accident occurred. The Blåhammar accident were four youngster were found dead just a hundred meters from the mountain station. Just a year later the Kariknall accident was a fact. Here it was three person that was found dead. In the winter 1978 it was an accident close to Lunndörren – The Anaris accident where eight person died. That accident get fully attention in the media. Now more and more people asked the question of who had the overall responsibility for preventing accidents and incidents on the mountain. As part of, or as a result of, these accidents, a mountain safety investigation is added.

As head responsible for the investigation the pre-army commander Carl Erik Almgren was choose.  Experts from the Police, Swedish environmental protection agency, SMHI, Swedish tourist association, Swedish outdoor association among more other organizations was also included. With sharpness, the investigation states -The responsible for own safety will be within own responsibility, – welcome to the mountains but on your own responsibility.

(quite interesting to read this from 2010…)

Information and education was two main part. The principalship was discussed during long time, It was one of those questions where there was disagreement within the group of experts. Due to the fact that the police authority already was owning the mountain rescue would be the naturally choice of the preventing work as well. In the end of the investigation the suggestion of ownership was The Swedish environmental Protect Agency. Many of the experts argued for that was not the most optimal. The result of the disagreement of ownership lead to two suggestion 1. A own authority and 2. An existing authority. In may 1979 the government made the decision to set up the Swedish Mountain Safety council as an own authority., and it must be directly subordinate to the government. So now the work can begin. In 1982 a work between the council, the Scholl board and the armed forces to build in mountain safety knowledge in their education. In 1984 the council is moved int to the Swedish environmental protect agency and will no longer become an own authority. This year the writhing’s of skiing and avalanche’s will be handed over from the demand of the council. In 1985 Clas Kempe is send to Davos for a avalanche symposium and Börje Renström is send over to Alaska for a cold Symposium. This year also the information paper ”Fjällsäker” is distributed. In 2001 the discussion about certification of Mountain guides is brought up for the first time.

(Urban Axelsson, a pioneer in the Swedish mountain Safety Council for the education of Mountain  Leaders in Sweden)

In 2010 the educational organization become a member of the council for the first time…

See ya tomorrow…