Walkers on the summit of Scafell Pike. Photo: Bob Smith/grough
Mountain rescuers in the Lake District are appealing to hillgoers to make the right preparations for their trip on to the fells.
The plea follows a week in which the national park’s volunteer rescuers received 25 emergency calls for help.
Almost half of them were fielded by Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team, whose patch includes Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain.
Richard Warren, chair of the umbrella body for the Lake District’s mountain rescuers, and himself a member of the Wasdale team, said: “Not all who venture on to the high fells bring experience and knowledge with them; many seem to leave the simple basics back at home.”
He said of the 12 callouts his team dealt with, only four were down to accidents that could happen to anyone. “A further eight were very much avoidable and down to poor preparation, inadequate clothing and equipment or a lack of appreciation of the environment,” he said.
Mr Warren suggested a list of preparations for anyone heading for the Lakeland fells: “Simple checks on the weather in your planning, making sure you have a map and compass – and at least one of the party knowing how to use it – carrying torches and mobile phones in case you get into serious difficulty, walking at the pace of the slowest member, keeping together as a group and even, believe it or not, taking waterproofs and warm clothing in case the weather turns.
“All of these safety tips are what our regular fell goers understand and take on board whenever they venture on to our mountains.
“Our message is very simple: mountain rescue teams are made up of unpaid volunteers, all who will leave their work and their families without question to deal with whatever is passed to them where their skills can make a difference.
“For any visitors who might end up in the avoidable category, please spend a little more time planning the walk which means understanding and planning the navigation – preparing the route, letting people know the routes you are taking and then pack what you will definitely need for when things don’t go quite as planned.
“Do not forget your map and compass. It will make your day out much more enjoyable and very much safer and keep the teams fresh for those accidents that do desperately need their help.”
Mr Warren chairs the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association, which represents the 12 volunteer teams covering the Lake District and Cumbria, with 450 members in total.
Mike V
09 August 2016You see them week in week out on the hills, ill prepared, and clueless about navigation.
It's a major problem, causing needless involvement, time, and effort of those wonderful selfless individuals that are the volunteers of the various Mountain Rescue teams.
Unfortunately it's a problem that has no practical means of solution, because the vast majority of those people who end up in the "avoidable incident" category of call out won't be reading articles such as this.
They are the type of people who just turn up and head off into the hills, thinking they already know all they need to know - until it's too late.
I would be thoroughly ashamed, were I to find myself in such a situation - but these days, far too many people genuinely believe that no matter how stupid their own actions, they can, as of right, simply put the problem onto someone else's shoulders to get them out of their predicament.
Anita P
09 August 2016I'm one of the 'accidents that could happen to anyone' after (unknown at the time) sustaining a broken leg in one careless moment last sunday week! I exhausted every option (ice pack, bandages, pain killers and at one point opting to crawl back towards the car) before I had to surrender to the fact I needed help from Mountain Rescue. I felt so embarrassed and ashamed at myself for getting in to that position.
Wasdale Mountain Rescue were amazing, so professional, everything I expected and more. Their passionate dedication was very apparent. I will forever be grateful to them, so made a contribution on their 'Just Giving' page the first chance I got.
I can't stress enough the importance of being prepared, only calling for help when all other options are completely exhausted. Sadly I imagine avoidable callouts will be tough to reduce. I had thought that paying for the service may help, but on reflection, this will only open up a different set of problems.
Mike Mead
10 August 2016I lived in Langdale for many years, for a time as Licencee of a well known pub and particularly in summer saw ill - prepared groups passing me on a well known path FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN were the worst offenders. I found the best approach was to engage them with (at first) friendly conversation.. "nice day.. where you off to" etc then if they were badly equipped (usually the kids!!!) try to persuade them towards a safer alternative. I was an Instructor for many years! If ignored or told to go away then just firmly tell them anyway in a polite and friendly way. Better to ruffle a few feathers than have a Team called out needlessly. You cannot dictate the use of the fells but don't be shy in offering friendly advice if qualified to do so. Have a good summer to all the Teams. Cheers Mike Mead
Andrew Swarbrick
10 August 2016My son and I walked in the area last week - we were both well equipped, reasonably experienced and had planned our routes and left our route details.
On the first day, in poor weather conditions on Illgill Head we met a lightly clad fellrunner lost in the mist and rain - with no map - who asked if he could stay with us on our descent to Burnmoor Tarn and until we we were out of the mist.
On our second day we walked up Scafell Pike from Wasdale Head - this time in beautiful weather conditions - but were shocked to see a number of people with minimal equipment, inadequate clothing and footwear and no evidence of having any map. Two separate people who spoke to us as we descended about 4pm were just beginning the ascent and asked us how far it was - we pointed out that they should be allowing at least 5-6 hours and that it would be dark at 9pm - they continued nevertheless. One was carrying nothing but a partly consumed small carton of juice drink!
I have always admired and valued the amazing service the volunteers provided by Mountain Rescue teams but there is obviously a need for much more education and information for the general public to avoid the incidents resulting from lack of preparation and knowledge. Perhaps much starker and stronger warnings on display boards at popular starting points would be a start.
Richard Brett
10 August 2016Thankfully, I have never needed to call on MRT, but I make a regular monthly contribution to the Wasdale MRT (I think I need to increase it...) in recognition of the service provided. I have encountered loads of silly, unprepared walkers on the fells, in particular Scafell Pike because "it's the biggest". Found a father & daughter trying to navigate Scafell Pike with a small road map bought at a petrol station; no compass, limited gear & no clue. We were a party of 6 so we made them join us, got them top the top and back to Wasdale via the corridor route in filthy conditions. How they would have even found the summit, I don't know - nice people, but.....
OldManOfTheHills
10 August 2016With no compulsory regulation of access it is indeed hard to know how to compel walkers to carry the right equipment We could do what the coastguard do and put up notices saying "Be prepared for bad weather at all times and seasons - Danger of death or injury if ill equipped" but that hardly accords with NT , BMC or English Nature vision of friendly mountains as a national resource. I commend the eternal patience of the police and mountain rescue teams in handling the eternally lost and strayed
OldManOfThe Hills
11 August 2016Re my earlier comment:- For possible signage concerning dangers in the hills consider the action taken at Lords Rake before the dangerous boulder broke up http://vscg.org/case-studies/lords-rake
Gareth
15 August 2016People really need to rethink the idea that nanny is always just a phonecall away, and to take a lot more personal responsibility.
Clearly mobile phones don't help in this regard. Whilst I appreciate they're potentially a priceless aid to safety, they also allow idiots to call out MRTs far too easily.
As someone who has gone into the hills for the past 30-odd years, at times alone and in winter conditions to solo easy climbs, I have always been acutely aware that, even given the best care and preparation, something might go awry. In the pre-mobile days, for a solo walker or climber that might well have meant being found the following spring. And that thought rather focusses the mind on personal safety, accurate navigation, and going well-equipped.
As far as I'm concerned, eveyone going into the hills should take exactly the same responsibility for themselves and their companions as they would have in the days before we carried mobile phones. The ability to phone for help is not an excuse for sloppy preparation or irresponsibile behaviour.
Margaret
16 August 2016Sound common sense Gareth.
If phones were taken from people at the start of a walk ? . . .