Hope the leader of this charity walk got a good slap upside the head for this one.

90 people in one group!!! No trace left behind then then?! I wonder how many banana skins were left!

I've said before, Charity groups should hire a local guide to help deal with stupid incidents like this. Give all participants his mobile number in case of difficulty. Let him decide if a full MRT needs to be called out. As the pair were able to describe the area the weather MUST have been clear.

A simple call to the guide would have saved a load of work and effort on a volunteer who probably needs their sleep at 07:00am.

A group of 90?? That's an army. The number of apparently clueless people who need to get rescued on this challenge is becoming ridiculous. Perhaps they should be made to take out some form of insurance, maybe similar to that provided for race organisers?
Like · Reply · A few seconds ago

“The lost couple of walkers had no mountaineering experience, no map or compass, limited equipment and clothing. They also did not know where they had started from or where they were going to."wtf they should not be let out!

There is limited mobile signal on Scafell Pike, unless you have a satellite phone any rescue depends on how far you got and how fast your colleagues or someone who takes pity on you can get back down and raise the alarm.
Mountains are dangerous, people need to know what they are doing or be with someone who does, recognise their own limitations and be equipped to cope.

Maybe big charity groups like this could be given a Garmin or similar. It's not too difficult to read a map, and, if they could see to describe where they were then they could see to enough to locate a path down on a map.

My friend did this 3 Peaks challenge a couple of weeks ago and her issue was that the group was so mixed they lost time at Ben Nevis waiting for weaker walkers and so couldn't do the summit of Scafell as they had to get to Snowden. Clearly., these events are poorly organised, badly run and a damaging effect on the environment and the work of the MRTs. It's about time they were clamped down on.

Saying that, I saw a family of three in February, in heavy snow and ice - child in wellington boots - at Hollow Stones heading for Scafell as we came down needing crampons to walk...

It's not the event, per say, that's a problem. It's the lack of proper organisation by the charity or association involved.
I work, as a guide, with an event organiser on this type of event. We always involve local mountain guides and members of local MRT (and pay them). As they're positioned on the hill they can make on the spot judgements about weak walkers and people in trouble and get things dealt with before a situation arises.

The Lake District is the area that generally gets nothing out of the 3 peaks as none of the participants stay there as is the case with Ben Nevis or Snowdon. It's just a lot of hassle for little reward.

It's a case of educating people to the possible perils, pitfalls and also the benefits of doing it properly. Clamping down will just get people angered and end up counter productive.

Rather than ban the events, I personally would like to see some financial benefit going towards Fix the Fells and also some form of community charge for the big organised commercial groups whose organisers profit from the challenges. Very little money is spent within Wasdale but the cost to the community is high. Three peakers say that it is not just them who leave the rubbish, but recently some kind walker left their £6.49p receipt for a day sack rain cover on Scafell Pike. How do we know its not just another walker? It was from the Fort William Branch of the shopping chain where it was bought.

Vehicle recognition cameras on the two approaches would encourage organisers to register their vehicles and pay a fee (bit like a congestion charge). Yes the privateers would still get up the valleys free but its generally the large groups with minibuses and coaches that cause the problems. I do know that the local rescue team struggle to get through the parked vehilces at Brackenclose because of the vans parked along the side of the road with peakers gear strewn everywhere. The car parking area on the green and now the overflow car park located by the temporary toilets at Wasdale Head typically also becomes full (as do the toilets that have to be cleaned by the local community).

Of course there will be many who successfully complete the challenge, safely, well organised and respectfull of the environment both on the fell and the surrounding areas. It is a just a pity that their efforts are tainted by those who have no interest in the great outdoors.

Here is an entry taken form a MRT facebook page ......"It was only last week when I was told a group of inexperienced project managers were attempting the N3P in foul weather. As a ML, I advised them to use a ML or guide because they were planning an ascent of Ben Nevis late evening. They laughed this off and said it is okay - if we have a problem we can be rescued. After explaining that the MRTs were a voluntary service they said they simply don't care!

Enough said

And it carries on- ban large charity groups on the mountain and discourage this event. Charities are never going to be completely organised. The damage being done, the litter, the call outs, the endless stream of torches in the night. If people want to go up the mountain at stupid o clock with no exp, map or knowledge they should be expected to hire a guide. All chrities should be required to pay for guides and group sizes limited at the very least.