Two walkers attempting the national Three Peaks Challenge had to be rescued from England’s highest mountain after ignoring warnings about severe weather.
Piers Gill
Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team was called out at 2.30am yesterday after a distress call from the two men, who were lost near to a perilous gill on Scafell Pike. The men were found by members of the team three hours later, suffering from mild hypothermia.
The rescue is the latest is a series of call-outs for rescuers from inexperienced mountain walkers who attempt the challenge and come to grief because they are unable to navigate in poor visibility. Richard Warren, chairman of the Wasdale MRT, said: “The frequency of Three Peaker rescues and the frequency of rescues in general do not appear to be falling as a result of the 2008 publicity campaign.
“We will continue to press our messages across.”
Mr Warren described the rescue: “Two walkers, intent on completing the Three Peaks Challenge, ignored warnings of severe weather and needed rescuing after they became lost in thick cloud and heavy rain.
Richard Warren
“The two gentlemen lost their way on Scafell Pike and ended up near the top of Piers Gill, a deep ravine that has lured several walkers into serious difficulty over the years. They were fortunate in being able to have mobile phone reception and were able to provide the team leader with sufficient information for him to make an educated guess as to their location.”
The men were able to walk from the fell with rescuers. One of the team even ferried the pair back to their car in Borrowdale, a distance of 56 miles. Mr Warren pointed out: “Taxi fares from Wasdale to Borrowdale are in excess of £100!”
Ten members of Wasdale MRT were involved in the operation, which took six hours.
The team chairman made the following plea: “Challenge walkers are encouraged to make sure they are properly equipped and able to navigate in darkness and bad weather.
“The Three Peaks Challenge used to be done over the midsummer weekend when there are long hours of daylight and a reasonable chance of good weather. Over recent years people are attempting the challenge throughout the year and are increasingly finding themselves in difficulty and requiring rescuing.”
All Britain’s civilian mountain rescue teams are staffed by volunteers who have to raise their own funds to operate the service.
Guest
08 September 2008[smiley=think] [color=#0000FF]Perhaps these gentlemen could attempt a challenge that is within their abilities to raise money for the mountain rescue teams who risk their own safety time and again for people who attempt mountain challenges with little knowledge, preparation or experience. I wonder how many charitable 3 peakers consider how much resource is expended by both the mountain rescue and conservation teams each year because of this event.[/color]
Mr Tuckle
08 September 2008I have a page set up on http://www.justgiving.com/mrTuckle where people can donate to Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team by not moving out of their chair. Far safer for all concerned.
Guest
10 September 2008Better to hire a guide or use one of the companies who provide a complete support service?
The Piglit
10 September 2008Better not to do it at all. Let's start a "Stop the 3 Peaks" campaign. Also - be interested to know if there are probs at the Ben end.