The Coastguard helicopter winches the injured climber from Great End. Photo: Keswick MRT
Rescuers were called out to two incidents where outdoor enthusiasts were injured in falls on wintry Lake District mountains.
A skier fell a long distance on Helvellyn on Sunday and a winter climber was seriously injured in a 650ft fall on Great End in the Scafell range the same day.
The incident on Helvellyn was the third on the same range over the weekend, including one where a man fell to his death.
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team was called out when the skier fell a considerable distance from the headwall of Helvellyn above Red Tarn. Members of Penrith MRT also joined the rescue effort and the Caernarfon Coastguard helicopter flew to the scene.
The injured man was then airlifted to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle for further treatment.
The helicopter refuelled and returned to the Patterdale MRT base, during which Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was alerted to a fallen winter climber on Great End.
The 27-year-old woman was climbing in Cust’s Gully when she came off, tumbling 200m and suffering serious head and arm injuries.
A Keswick MRT spokesperson said: “In the process, a second climber fell, though he escaped, initially, apparently unhurt.
“Keswick team were swiftly en route, summoning air support from the Coastguard, given the time it would take to get on scene. As luck would have it, Rescue 936 from Caernarfon was at Patterdale MRT’s base, having just finished a rescue on Helvellyn.
“Patterdale were able to mobilise five members and a doctor to fly direct to the scene, thereby saving time, and giving the casualty more immediate assistance. Keswick team members continued up the hill, in case circumstances required a land evacuation.
“The Patterdale members, doctor and the paramedic from the aircraft treated both casualties at the scene, who were then flown to Furness General Hospital for treatment. The Patterdale members then made their way down to Seathwaite with Keswick MRT members, to meet up with two Patterdale vehicles which had driven round to pick them up.
“Keswick Team members returned to base, after what has been a challenging weekend.
“Thanks to Patterdale team for their timely assistance, and Rescue 936 for shortening what would have been a long carry out.”
Twenty-one volunteers from Keswick MRT took part in the rescue, along with the six from Patterdale team, in an operation lasting almost three hours.
The umbrella body for mountain rescue in Cumbria said it was concerned about the number of incidents on Helvellyn, where the man died, and stressed winter equipment and knowledge was essential for anyone heading for the high fells of the Lake District.
Richard Warren, chair of the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association said: “Over the weekend, Helvellyn has been the centre of three rescues involving members of Keswick Mountain Rescue Team and Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team.
“Saturday saw two rescues, one on the west slopes and one on the eastern side. This was followed yesterday by a further incident on the eastern side.
“The second incident on Saturday was attended by both Patterdale and Keswick teams where a walker fell 60m down a snow slope by Browncove Crags which overlook Thirlmere. He tragically did not survive his injuries.
“Our heartfelt thoughts go out to the family and friends of the walker who fell.
“This is the fourth incident this year at Browncove Crags involving tripping and slipping which is on the descent route from the summit of Helvellyn back down to Thirlmere.
“The teams across the Lake District really do want to get a message out about the winter conditions on the mountains and the need for preparation, planning and a real understanding of the risks that exist high up on the slopes.
“The messages will continue to go out about the need for the right equipment but even with the correct equipment accidents do happen and therefore people need to be prepared for every eventuality, either to help yourself survive in the event of having an accident but equally helping others who they may come across and need helping.
“The Easter weekend is not too far away and winter conditions will remain on the slopes and gullies sheltered from the sun. Crampons are essential on steep snow slopes to prevent a fall and an ice-axe to stop the sliding.
“Please remember that spikers are not a substitute for crampons. The message is very clear – have the right equipment but also practise using it whether it is a map and compass for when you get lost or an ice-axe to arrest a fall.”
Gordon Bulter
19 March 2018My wife and I camped at Red Tarn on Friday night and although we both had crampons and ice axes we gave up the idea of climbing to the top. We walked down slowly and must have passed about 70 people going up the path, some whom appeared to be inadequately equipped to be on a mountain in winter. At least two thirds had no trekking poles and certainly no ice axes or crampons but stated their intention of climbing to the top. We were very concerned for their safety and are not surprised although saddened to hear of a death.
David Earnshaw
19 March 2018Just wondering --- but would an Axe brake have been in any way possible on what has been described as bullet hard ice ?? -- full crampons likewise ??
Yorkshire Walker
19 March 2018Yes. The whole point of crampons is for walking across frozen snow and ice. If you are wearing proper crampons then unlikely you'd need to arrest a slip, as you probably wouldn't slip in the first place. Many people seem to think boot spikes are crampons; they're not. Cheap boot spikes, metal coils etc are about as effective on mountains in winter conditions as wearing golf shoes and are only suitable for walking to the shops on a winter's day. They should carry warnings that they shouldn't be used in the mountains.
Colin
19 March 2018Just so sad for all involved and the family of the walker in question.
Having hit bullet hard ice on the final step of striding ledge two years ago, can I say dont risk it. An ice ace may not penetrate the ice !
Can I also ask that ‘someone’ provides a picture of the danger spots with an “x”. There are probably a few snow covered slopes at the moment. Easter is early and poorly equipped walkers will be out in force over the next two weekends.
Ling
20 March 2018Would it help if sign is put up at the entrance of the Path to warn walkers the danger of the snow path near the summit ?
Yorkshire Walker
20 March 2018The suggestion of a sign on the path may seem like the answer but is not practical nor feasible. The mountains are inherently hazardous places. You would need a warning sign on every path in all of the mountainous areas of the UK, warning people of the potential hazards ahead (uneven, steep, rocky ground, bad weather, poor visibility etc), plus a comprehensive kit list for summer and winter. You would then need to check every morning that the signs are all still there. There have been accidents across all mountainous areas of Britain, not just Helvellyn (Scafell Pike, Great End, Coniston Old Man, Dow Crag, Ingleborough, Snowdon, Tryfan, Ben Nevis, Cairngorms...). The Fell Top Assessors provide a daily conditions and forecast report for Helvellyn, but I wonder how many people climbing Helvellyn this coming weekend will have read it?
TheAllPowerful
20 March 2018I don't see any harm in a sign warning walkers of the dangers... It would be ignored by a lot of people, but it's not going to do any harm, and might dissuade the odd person who hasn't fully considered the dangers!
We has to rescue a couple of teenagers who'd got themselves cragfast on ice on Tryfan a couple of months ago because they hadn't really considered the dangers of steep mountainous terrain and ice. Not sure a sign would have stopped them, but it also wouldn't have done any harm either!
Ian512
20 March 2018It's the consequences of a fall which is important.
Hard ice into soft snow may only lead to a few scrapes and cuts. However, hard ice into jagged rocks or hard ice to a sheer drop will probably be fatal.
If the consequences of a fall are serious then you are clearly in the land of winter mountaineering when you may decide to use a rope and belay. At least for a short dodgy section.
Of course the problem is, having the experience to recognise the seriousness of that winter situation and having the ability to deal with it.
heidi
20 March 2018I was on Helvellyn today and most people without ice axe and crampons were sensibly turning back when they reached the steep snow slope. The fatal accident seemed to be uppermost in people's minds
david aldridge
20 March 2018I was on Helvellyn two weeks ago and came up via Thirlmere.
I was flabbergasted to see people;
a) coming down on their derriere;
b) people clearly having gone beyond their limits without appropriate equipment, well actually no equipment; and struggling to make a decent.
That day there were high wind gusts, icy paths which were banked out providing excellent opportunities for a long slid if you got caught on a narrow path and stumbled due to wind etc.
Falls waiting to happen, some were in trainers and yoga pants. I wondered if I was over prepared with ice axe crampons and full winter kit. My advise for what it is worth is risk asses but be prepared for the worst case scenario.
Richard Warren
22 March 2018Many thanks Heidi - all the comments are extremely valuable in our efforts to reduce these accidents but yours has actually motivated me to continue getting these messages out there. As sad as they many times are, if we as mountain rescuers do make people think twice before heading higher into the high risk areas the we might be saving lives. We will never know for sure. Keep up the good work everyone in spreading the word and like us, help to both save a life and reduce those many avoidable callouts.