Bleaklow yesterday

Two walkers were rescued after a major search on one of the Peak District’s most challenging hills.

The pair rang police yesterday, Monday, to say they were ‘lost in the fog’ on Bleaklow, renowned for its difficult navigation.

Two search dogs and 30 team members from the Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team joined the search, co-ordinated by the Glossop MRT, which mounted a hunt for the walkers from the East.

The Hade Edge-based members of the Woodhead team were quickly into action as they were preparing to go out on a training exercise when the call for help came in.

Team Leader John Halstead said: “We were already kitted up and were able to deploy to the search area quickly, although efforts were hampered by dense fog and at times snow flurries.

“This is where the training pays off; we were able to come up with a search strategy with our colleagues and deploy our resources to maximum effect.”

Edale MRT also joined the operation, providing support and communications on the south side of the mountain.

The men were eventually found, safe but cold and wet, by a search and rescue dog from Oldham, about 10pm. The walkers were on Alport Moor about 10km from their starting point.

Seven Search and Rescue Dogs Association handlers and animals from the Oldham, Buxton, Edale, Woodhead and Glossop teams took part in the operation.

grough recently described a walk on Bleaklow, saying: “It presents an even greater navigational challenge than Kinder Scout” and Alfred Wainwright said of the fell: “It is certainly mucky, too often belaboured by rain and wind and frightening in mist.”