The group of 17 was found above Great Douk Cave, north of Ingleborough's summit
A party of 17 walkers was rescued after getting lost in the dark on Yorkshire’s second-highest peak.
The walkers, a mixed male and female group aged between 16 and 24, were attempting the Yorkshire Three Peaks, a 39km (24-mile) challenge walk taking in Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough.
The group called for help about 11.20pm last night, Saturday, after taking the wrong route off Ingleborough, the 723m (2,372ft) fell usually ascended as the last of the three.
A small team from the Clapham-based Cave Rescue Organisation, the volunteer team which undertakes both fell and cave rescues, found the lost walkers above Great Douk Cave, 2½km (1½ miles) north of the summit, and brought them to safety.
The rescue was the team’s 10th of 2012.
Jacinta Howells
19 March 2012Getting lost in the dark is both scary and foolish. It is always a good idea when planning a challenge like this to do a preliminary day walk up the mountain some time beforehand which would be climbed in the dark during the challenge - just to get used to the route. Torches (headtorches are better) spare batteries and navigation tools are an absolute must and stick to the route religously!
As much as getting lost is dangerous, it is also avoidable if simple precautionary measures are in place, let's leave the rescuers to real life or death emergencies!
Christine Giles
25 October 2013Can't quite believe people are going out walking without the basics..........just abolutely crazy!!