A man was rescued from an icy Lake District peak after getting stuck on steep snowy ground.
The walker, described by rescuers as ‘a very friendly priest’ called for help from Y Gully on Catstye Cam on Friday.
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team went to the man’s aid, taking an ice-axe and crampons to him. Rescuers said the experienced walker had left his own crampons and ice-axe in his car in the valley below.
The team leader said: “The man, from the North-East of England, had not realised the effect of the snow from earlier in the week.
“Although, he was very experienced and had all of the right equipment he had left his ice axe and crampons in the car.
“We were very pleased that he called when he did and happy to go to his aid. We located him about 150m from the summit and assisted him back to our base. We hope to see him on the mountains again soon. It was a great day to be out.
“As a matter of course, we’d like to let people know that Helvellyn and the surrounding fells are in full winter condition and winter equipment, including an ice and crampons, are essential.
“Please check the felltop forecast for the weekend and look at the images on our Facebook page from today.”
The four-hour rescue involved seven volunteers from Patterdale MRT.
Alan
13 November 2016Being experienced ! !
The weather forecast was for snow
Leaving his grampons and ice axe in the car, or was that an excuse, and then continuing on in icy conditions does not go down well with ' being experienced '
OldManofTheHills
13 November 2016Most experienced walkers and climbers have made similar errors at times. Crampons and axe are heavy and slow you down and its only later on descending without them you get that sinking, or rather sliding feeling. But seeing as people have also skied on the nearby Raise this weekend he really wasnt paying attention