Rescuers say fellwalkers should make sure they can find their way before venturing on to the Lakeland mountains.

They have raised concerns about the increase in incidents, including a death and a serious injury in the past week. The recent warm weather may have been a factor in tempting people into unfamiliar terrain.

Scafell and Scafell Pike 

Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) was called out to six incidents the weekend before last and then had to deal with a fatal accident on Scafell and a woman with a fractured skull in Great Langdale. 2006 saw the highest number of fatalities for 17 years.

The fact that older people are tackling the high fells also brings problems.

Richard Warren of the Wasdale MRT says three of the seven recent fatalities the team has dealt with were due to heart attacks. But getting lost and taking the wrong turn also lands many walkers in trouble, including one 34-year-old who this week had to be lowered 200m by rope after becoming cragfast above Wasdale Screes.

Mr Warren said: “Some people are ill-prepared but there's a lot of navigational errors.

“Scafell Pike, for example, is notoriously difficult to come off in the mist and people do need to understand their map and compass to find their way off safely.”

Wasdale MRT has had to deal with 33 incidents so far this year.

Related link
Lakes fell deaths highest for 17 years