Walkers on Striding Edge, with Helvellyn's summit in the distance
Two hillwalkers turned mountain rescuers today after a man got stuck on Helvellyn.
The passing walkers guided the man to safety from a steep slope on the eastern side of the 950m (3,117ft) mountain in the Lake District. After leading the man from safety, the two fellwalkers helped him and his companion find a safe route to the valley.
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team was called today at 1.06pm to deal with the incident. The two men from Ormskirk, Lancashire, had got into difficulties on a slope between the end of Striding Edge and the summit plateau.
A spokesperson for the team said: “One of the two had made his way to safer ground leaving his colleague nervous and frightened on a 45-degree snow slope.
“Two fellwalkers who were fully equipped for the snow and ice conditions were passing. They spoke to the rescue team by mobile phone and guided both the stuck walkers on to the summit of Helvellyn and showed them the safe way off.
“Mobile phone contact was maintained by the rescue team with the rescued persons as they made their way off to Glenridding.”
The weather forecast for today on the Lake District fells was for heavy and prolonged snowfall and blizzard conditions on high ground.
The conditions reported yesterday by the Lake District Weatherline’s felltop assessors were of snowdrifts of 50cm (20 inches) on eastern aspects with loosely bonded snow, weakened by recent thaws, avalanching in places. The cornice around the summit plateau was also weak and walkers were being warned to stay away from it.
The assessors, who make the journey to the summit of Helvellyn every day during winter months, advise: “Full winter clothing, footwear and equipment are required for anyone venturing out onto the fells.
“An ice axe is also essential for those going above the snow line and either attempting steep routes or traversing steep ground. For example, despite the higher temperatures the exits to both Striding Edge and especially Swirral Edge are banked with snow. Crampons should also be carried in case the wet snow refreezes, which it is forecast to do.
“Similarly, some popular paths have compacted snow on them which could turn into ice.”
High winds are also prevalent, with gusts over 45mph (72kph) recorded.
