Conditions on Sharp Edge during the rescue. Photo supplied by reader Stephen Little
A father and son who got stuck on a Lake District knife-ridge were described as ‘fortunate’ by rescuers.
The pair were plucked to safety from Sharp Edge by the crew of an RAF helicopter but a mountain rescuer said the outcome could have been very different after the walkers spent an hour and a half trapped in a precarious position on ice.
The rescue on the arête leading to the summit of 868m (2,848ft) Blencathra was the second in four days on the ridge, which is an accident blackspot and scene of several fatalities. A 26-year-old woman suffered spinal injuries in a 10m (33ft) fall on Wednesday.
Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was called out shortly after midday today to the pair who became cragfast on the grade one scramble.
A team spokesperson said: “As the temperature in the valley was 4C, it was no surprise to us that there was ice on Blencathra, especially given the volume of rain that had fallen in the last week.
“However, it came as a surprise to a 41-year-old man and his 12-year-old son, who managed to get part of the way up Sharp Edge, and then became cragfast on the gully leading to the summit.
“They phoned for assistance but were stuck for an hour and a half in a precarious position, on very slippery ground.
“The team sent a fast group of six, and also requested the help of an RAF Sea King from Boulmer [in Northumberland].
“The team summited with the necessary equipment in 55 minutes from leaving the base, and the helicopter arrived at more or less the same time as the first team members.
“Some very skilful flying from the aircrew meant that father and son were winched to safety in a few minutes, and were then flown down to their transport at the foot of the mountain.”
Cloud starts to descend during the incident. Photo supplied by reader Stephen Little
The helicopter then returned to the rescue scene and flew team members and their equipment down to their vehicles at Mousthwaite Combe.
The spokesperson added: “This could have turned out very differently, had the two not been able to hang on, and they were very aware of how fortunate they had been.”
At the end of last month, three walkers got stuck on Sharp Edge and one of them was injured after falling 20m (66ft).
Keswick Mountain Rescue Team repeated warnings that the route is notoriously slippery after rain and for some days afterwards. Descent is much harder than ascent, it said, and incidents on Sharp Edge tend to be serious.
Pete Stuart
24 November 2012Naive given the weather of recent days and the amount of information available in deciding route choice. Personally I'd send them an invoice for rescue costs
GlenRyder
24 November 2012Let's hope this guy is suitably ashamed of taking his son out on such terrain in such conditions and the boys mother has more sense than to let him take their son walkng again.......astonishing!!!
Stephen Little
26 November 2012People need to be properly equipped, know their own ability, read the conditions and know when they should turn back. The father in question did not even have a flask till we lowered one down to them on the rope we had and made use of on our ascent.
The astonishing thing was, people were still attempting to walk up there unequipped for the conditions after watching us use the rope on several hairy sections. Thankfully most sore sense and turned back.
Praise has to go out to the rescue team for risking their lives to help, the mist quickly came in as we heard the helicopter arriving.
*Group that made sure they were warm enough and donated flask
Stephen Little
26 November 2012P.S. We offered to assist with our sling type rope, but without harnesses, it was not safe to both parties.
I hope they make a donation to Mountain Rescue.
Chrissy H
26 November 2012Well done to all concerned in rescuing this irresponsible idiot. 55 minutes up to Sharp Edge is very impressive. Not sure why you wouldn't name and shame him. Hope he made a hefty donation to KMR team.
Matt
26 November 2012Were they badly equipped?? The conditions don't look too bad, I don't understand why they got into difficulty. Were crampons necessary?
OutdoorsAndy
28 November 2012Silly season has started.
Thank MRt no one was hurt. I guess the cost of the helicopter outweighs the cost to the NHS and the grief to their loved ones.
It seemed the death tole last winter was large given the mild conditions. It seems practically a miracle no one has been fatally hurt recently, given the stories on here, (thanks Grough).
I hear it time and again, its "its just the Cambrian fells" etc. It seems they, and other areas of the UK, are seriously misunderstood by many seeking outdoor recreation.
Serious locations demand serious kit and most importantly experience and ability to use it. Its seems a recurring topic on here, but the answer is illusive, especially given the importance of encouraging people to get into the outdoors.
To attempt to answer your question Matt, the fact they got cragg fast would suggest they were under equipped or experienced. The tone of the MRT report was not flattering. And looking at the photos, it looks pretty bad to me, to attempt a grade one scramble in.
Mr R White
06 January 2013I am the man in question, we were properly equipped and have experience in these conditions. We literally had just ran out of hot coffee but thank you Stephen for your hot black currant. We unfortunately went the wrong way on the way up to Blencathra summit and could not get back without danger. We certainly do not under estimate the Cumbrian fells as we have a home in the area. Obviously it was a learning experience and we made a mistake. To answer the question I have always been a contributor to Keswick mountain rescue and also to raf boulmer who airlifted us off. We returned to the mountain the week after and got to the summit. Like you say there were plenty of people on the mountain who kept going up when maybe they should have turned back. Sometimes things going wrong and mistakes are made, just for the information to you people saying that we should be sent a bill, I sent £1000 to the charity and have always supported them. Every little helps but we made an error.