Walkers on the path leading from Wasdale Head towards Scafell Pike. Photo: Joe Cornish/National Trust Images
Walkers heading for England’s highest peak face being quizzed on their preparedness.
Members of the public setting out for Scafell Pike on Sunday will be asked what gear and clothing they have and what weather they expect.
Mountain rescue callouts in the area are at an all-time high and the exercise at Wasdale Head is part of a joint effort to tackle the problem.
Rescuers are teaming up with police officers and the National Trust for the fact-finding event at Brackenclose car park, one of the main starting points for the ascent of the 978m (3,209ft) peak.
Those leaving the car park for a day in the hills will be asked about what they have packed to take with them, local weather conditions and how long their planned walk should take. Organisers said the intention is to learn from walkers and for walkers to have an even better day on the mountain.
Richard Warren, chairman of the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association and member of Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team said that many of the 140 callouts received by the Wasdale team last year were for Scafell Pike.
Already this year they have responded to 34 callouts including three fatalities and a serious injury on Friday 18 May. The last involved 11 team members, three rescue vehicles, an air ambulance and a Coastguard helicopter. Mr Warren anticipates the team’s 38 volunteers to be called out at least three to four times a week during the peak summer holiday period. He says this is potentially unstainable for a purely volunteer organisation.
He said: “We need to reduce the growing number of avoidable callouts with an effective education and awareness programme covering safety, personal responsibility and respect in the mountains and surrounding areas.”
Event organiser Marian Silvester, the National Trust’s general manager in the west Lakes said: “Our welcome staff, rangers and campsite team regularly talk to the thousands of visitors who climb Scafell Pike from Wasdale every year.
“We also provide route and weather information boards in Lake Head car park. It will be good to learn from our colleagues and walkers as part of partnership working. We all want people to have a great experience walking to the top of England’s highest mountain and back.”
Superintendent Matt Kennerley of Cumbria Constabulary said: “Walking Scafell Pike can be dangerous if you are ill-prepared for what may lie ahead. The priority of us all is to make sure that everyone who sets off on such an endeavour is able to return home safely at the end.
“The mountain rescue volunteers carry out an invaluable role in helping to bring those who get into difficulty back to safety. However, this Sunday’s engagement activity will hopefully help raise awareness of the potential difficulties and reduce the likelihood of more people getting into trouble and requiring help.”
The county’s police and crime commissioner Peter McCall will also attend for part of the exercise.
He said: “ It will be helpful for us all to understand a bit more about the range of experience and knowledge of the walkers who will be setting off to climb Scafell Pike – not least to get people thinking about the level of challenge they are about to face and how prepared they are for it.
“It is not about spoiling people’s fun but about listening to walkers, understanding their expectations, and ultimately about people having a safe and enjoyable experience.”
Leonie
25 May 2018This is a fantastic idea, well done everyone involved. I hope people will take it in the spirit in which it’s intended and Head up scafell Pike safer and we’ll-prepared, either cause they already were, or due to a little help.
Margaret
26 May 2018Sounds like an idea.
heidi
26 May 2018Great idea. I would be very interested to hear the results
Vinny
26 May 2018Great effort but doubt it will make any difference. We went up there when it was in full winter condition earlier this year and we were quizzed on what gear we had. When we opened the boot and the guy saw the multiple ice axes, crampons, and B3 boots he burst out laughing and said "I think you'll be OK". Then a car pulled up with a group of guys in, they got out and most of them had trainers on, no winter gear at all. The guy quizzed them and they were clearly unprepared, but they laughed and went up anyway. We passed them on the way down struggling to get over the snow and ice at Brown Tongue. The main issue is that people have driven a long way with the intention of climbing the Pike; given the effort they've already put in, very few people will be discouraged at the car park. I really hope it makes a difference but I suspect it won't.
Jo
26 May 2018I know the intentions are good but personally if I knew my preparations for a day on the mountains were going to be checked it would stop me from visiting.
Chris Mellotr
26 May 2018So what happens if the questioners find some people who they think are under-equipped?
Alan
27 May 2018The cloud makes a good face
Dave E
27 May 2018Useful as a conversation with walkers. No one will turn you around, but it might give many something to reflect on. Or even stop a call-out?
Jen K-W
28 May 2018Great idea as it might also raise less experienced walkers' awareness of the potential consequences of unpredictable conditions. Do the questions include prior experience of walking in changing conditions; eg, awareness of how quickly clear skies can deteriorate to impenetrable mist? Do the questions include basic navigation skills of map and compass? Hope the results are published as they will no doubt make interesting reading.
Ian
29 May 2018A positive initiative in my view. If it prevents just one avoidable call-out or a fatality then it's worth the effort. Hats off to all those involved and as others have said, it'll be interesting to see how it has worked out.
Maybe worth considering for Helvellyn, now Britain's favourite walk apparently?
Rod Hepplewhite
30 May 2018I don't suppose the questioning will have made many, if any, of those not properly prepared change their plans, we can only hope it gave them food for thought and perhaps, just perhaps, they will act next time.
I was on Scafell Pike with a pal on Sunday (we walked the quiet way from Jubilee Bridge, up via Pen and returning via Lord's Rake, West Wall Traverse, Deep Gill, Scafell and Slight Side). It was heaving on Scafell Pike and Scafell was the busiest I've ever seen it. Many of those on The Pike were clearly not properly kitted out - trainers, shorts, football shirts for the lads and skimpy tops for the lasses seemed to be the order of the day, many without backpacks. We felt terribly over-dressed and out of place with our 25l rucksacks!
Thankfully, I haven't read or heard of any accidents on The Scafells or Helvellyn over the weekend
heidi
31 May 2018Like you, Rod, I often feel very overdressed on the fells nowadays- sometimes people look at me like I'm from outer space! And the route you did on sunday is one of my fav routes- mega day out. Interesting, that even with questioning beforehand, it didn't seem to make much difference
Sue H
03 June 2018We did Snowdon the last Bank Holiday in great weather and like you Rod had 25l packs with water bladders and wearing leather boots. We were definitely the most overdressed there. Didn’t actually see anyone in flip flops but everything else on view. And why do some people have music blaring out?!