The Kirkstone Pass rises to almost 1,500ft. Photo: John Holmes CC-BY-SA-2.0
Mountain rescuers were called out to aid an injured driver on a Lake District pass after a two-vehicle crash in snow and ice.
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team said they advised other motorists to use an alternative route to the Kirkstone Pass between Ambleside and Patterdale, which had many stricken vehicles.
The team was called out at 11am on Sunday to join other emergency services to free the man who was stuck in his vehicle on the descent of the pass from its 455m (1,493ft) summit northwards.
A team spokesperson said: “The team arrived on scene alongside the air ambulance crew, the fire brigade and North West Ambulance service and a multi-agency operation to remove the man took place.
“He was stretchered to a waiting land ambulance for onward transportation to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.
“The occupants of the other vehicle involved were uninjured so they were taken by the team to a place of safety.
“The Kirkstone Pass road was littered with vehicles and the team had to suggest to many motorists heading over the pass that they really should turn around and make a route diversion to their intended destination.”
The incident lasted three hours and involved 19 Patterdale MRT volunteers.
East Lancs Rodeo
16 December 2019Are snow gates in place a the bottom(s) of Kirkstone Pass / The Struggle? I can't remember.
Would these not prevent the piles of stricken vehicles?
OldmanofTheHills
16 December 20194 by 4s, folk with snow tyres and chains, and indeed farmers little quad bikes can manage in most conditions especially the main road. So shutting road would involve many properly equipped folk going 50 miles to get from Patterdale to Amble Side.
Indeed my old camper with snow tyres managed to just ascend when road was declared shut and I was passed at start by Polish Barman from a certain pub in a Fiesta.(I think Poles learn in harsher conditions than we have in the Lakes)
Teaching people to drive would do the job, particularly the need for slow speed but minimal braking coming down from Kirkstone.
The Struggle can be a bit worrying however.
There are big signs but its rarely drifted to be impassible that often