A group of 130? No wonder some got separated. It's such a shame that not everyone walks in a small group, where someone missing would be noticed. The thought of going for a walk with 129 other people fills me with horror anyway - if I want crowds round me, I can commute to work by public transport.

Yet another report of Mountain Rescue Teams having to attend a situation brought about by irresponsible and ill-prepared people heading into the hills.

If the report here is correct, in stating that the five involved were part of a larger group of 130 people, one has to question the entire planning, execution, and leadership of that walk.

With so many participants, one has to assume that, even be it an informal event, this was an organised walk? – Someone must have organised it, and they, whoever they are, deserve a right royal rollocking for the needless wasting of time of the Mountain Rescue Team volunteers.

The five directly involved – one torch between them!
Presumably no map or compass, as had they had those, and the ability to use them correctly, even with just one torch and in darkness, they should have been able to extricate themselves from that situation.

Yes, an accident, or a situation brought about by a genuinely unforeseeable circumstance might catch even the most experienced and well prepared out. But time and again, MRT volunteers are required to rescue idiots! (There is no point in beating around the bush here).

The basics for hill safety apply year-round, and especially so as winter approaches - with shorter daylight hours, lower temperatures, and generally less clement weather.

It is laudable that our volunteer MRT’s willingly continue to attend such needless callouts, but these avoidable callouts seem to be increasing at an unprecedented and unsustainable, (for the MRT's), rate. It is time that those who occasion such call outs were made legally responsible for their actions and made to pay financial recompense if nothing else, for their negligence.

I hope that the group involved make a substantial donation to the mountain rescue teams involved!

I was up on Scafell Pike yesterday afternoon and saw this group. There must have been at least 50 on the summit whilst I was there, with others descending or still on their way up. The weather was extremely poor, high winds and very cold (through wind chill) and the ground conditions icy. Whilst most appeared to be reasonably well clothed, some were not and, in my view, should not have been on the mountain. For instance, as I descended I followed one lad wearing worn out trainers, without hat or gloves and carrying a shopping bag with what looked like a bottle of pop. He certainly wasn't carrying any form of survival gear.

Who are these people who coordinate and believe it's a sensible idea to take a group of 130 people, oh and at night into the mountains!! On a slightly different note, what kind of an experience are these people getting or hoping for? Do they have any conscience on environmental, sustainability issues? I could say a lot more on these issues but this is not the time or place...

Like Dom I saw the group on Saturday. I agree that many (most) of the party were inadequately prepared. The group were dangerously let down by the organisers who should not have undertaken the charity walk as the snow was visible from their start at Borrowdale. Once at the snow line they should definitely have been turned back. The young people had no assembly point to begin their descent and also no consistent idea of the route they were going to take.

I wonder if the lost group were attempting to return via the Corridor and missed the arrow pointing up the rock face? They were found at Sty Head suggesting this might be the case. It is my view that this signage is inadequate - in the perfect world everyone will have done their research - but in the real world it could cost someone their life...

The organisers should be made to foot the bill for all the MRT teams.... Shocking and certainly not showing much organisational skills when they only had one torch between them and they were still allowed to go up the mountain by the people leading this farce.....

130 people ???? Leads me to say if this was organised .. who where the ML running it and how did a group separate if that was the case? surely with 130 people there would have been 5/6 ML surely they would have been responsible for small groups each ?? or is it a case of a bunch of idiots just going for a bimble with NO IDEA.

I hope they make a huge donation to you guys .. sad thing is these situations are happening more and more as more joe bloggs head into the hills.

Yesterday I was on Snowdon in the SNOW and sleet where i passed 2 girls in HOT PANTS and trainers .. no not running walking and complaining there legs where NUMB .. one has to ask what planet these people are on

great work as always MRT <3

I hope that the rescue teams have sent a really strong letter of protest to the organizers of this folly.

I was up with a group, just to clarify there were two groups out on the hill yesterday. One group of 50 with mountain leaders and all got down safe and sound.

The other were a group of 90, and were not best organised at all to say the least, and didn't have ML's with them. Myself ended up taking several members down with ourselves.

Poor route choice, lack of group management. We gave advice to where participants could be, and are following up with the organisation to prevent again and better inform them

which company again...?

They really should be named.

I'm sure we all know a few colleagues we'd like to send their way for some of that special attention they lavish on their clients...