Bell end

I can't believe his companion or none of the (I assume) many passers by couldn't help out and talk him down.

Silly me, I forgot we don't do things like that these days. No matter what the problem we reach for the phone and call 999.......
"Hello, which service would you like"
"Mountain rescue"
"Can you tell us what the emergency is"
"I've got to the top of Helvellyn and realised I've left my lunch in the car. I'd like the mountain rescue to make me some ham sandwiches and bring them up. O and, don't forget to tell them no butter"

I think some think that these mountain rescue folk just sit around like Thunderbirds waiting to rush out and save them at a moment's notice.

I hope the chap involved digs deep and contributes a significant amount to his "rescue". Bet he didn't.

I think some think that these mountain rescue folk just sit around like Thunderbirds waiting to rush out and save them at a moment's notice.

I hope the chap involved digs deep and contributes a significant amount to his rescue. Bet he didn't.

Fifty quid says he did.

Well that's what happens when you encourage people to start hill walking. I just wonder how many give up after a single walk on a "difficult" hill?

The problem I have is hill walking should be a natural evolution of simply enjoying a walk. But, today the media, gear manufaturers and Government blasts the benefits of health on the hills without the concern of the difficulties of hill terrain, weather or the sheer amount of exertion it takes. This all leads to more "avoidable" call outs for MRT.

I assume the guy involved has his car registered with the AA or RAC for £75 per year, yet is delighted to be rescued for free. If you were an alien from Pluto you'd soon assume cars are more valuable then human life.

Jhimmy, good points.

As society seems to have embraced 'Safetyism', it's surprising to see so many people head off, with little experience, to what are potentially dangerous mountains.

All with the support of government, its various agencies and other organisations.

I recently visited your planet and noticed that mountain rescue and the subsequent primary care where needed is provided for free, often by volunteers. I deduce from this that you are a compassionate race that value human life above personal reward and the ability of an individual to pay.

On the other hand I observe a tendency to villify casualties by making stuff up about them being delighted, owning cars and what breakdown cover they have.

Gwark from Pluto

You may have noticed that much of what is posted on grough is opinion and that people have different opinions.

You have now joined with your opinion - welcome to the 'moral high ground'.

I think the bloke from Pluto is completely missing the point us earthlings are making.

For the most part we are a compassionate race and are more then willing to help someone who is genuinely in difficulty.

What we object to is the way people are abusing this free resource and doing nothing whatsoever to help them selves before calling the free resource as a last resort.

I think I speak for everyone on Earth when I suggest you go back to Pluto and do a little more research before coming to 'our' planet and telling us our opinions are wrong.

I have been fell walking for many years now and due to this virus and lock down I have missed my trips to the lake district, However last week I decided to go back. I parked in Glenridding very early, no body around and I was on top of Helvellyn at 7.30am. although it was misty and raining it felt good to be back until I saw the litter and mess that had been left on and around the summit shelter. When i got back to the village it was packed. One of the locals who i know told me that litter had risen significantly it was all over the area including popup tents and items of clothing. Two persons, one in shorts and training shoes asked the chap in the Information centre how to go up Helvellyn, he told them to leave it due to the weather and advised them to go up Sheffield Pike. However they asked others in the car park and headed towards Mires Beck. I want people to enjoy this area and to respect it. If you have no experience at altitude there are some lovely walks at low level or go with an experienced person the MRT are volunteers for emergencies don't take them for granted, and for those who want to use the area as a bin, stay away your not welcome.

I'm a friend of the man who was helped by the mountain rescue team and am shocked at some of the comments made by you people.

At the end of the day the rescuers are there to get people off mountains if they find the place to be more difficult than they thought it would be or if they get lost or find themselves on a mountain when it gets dark. Otherwise what's the point in having them.

"At the end of the day the rescuers are there to get people off mountains."
Duncan, I'm shocked you presume this.

Mountain Rescue is not a 'service' (it’s not the RAC) mountaineers and hill walkers are 'privileged' to have many groups of 'volunteers' ready to assist in 'real' emergencies. Sometimes at a financial cost to themselves.

Also, it's very useful is to be aware that mountains/hills are potentially very dangerous. Therefore, before heading out, ask yourself am I prepared and have the self-reliance to look after myself.

You might also consider risk-assessing your trip before heading out; after all, you wouldn’t let your kids or grand kids go out with an instructor if they hadn’t risk assessed what they were going to do on the hill, who is in the party, how fit they are, weather etc.

Duncan - I repeat from earlier:

You may have noticed that much of what is posted on grough is opinion and that people have different opinions.

You have now joined with your opinion - welcome to the 'moral high ground'.

From Patterdale MRT website: "Our Team is made up entirely of volunteers and we are available and on call for 24 hours a day, every day of the year. We have a wide variety of "day jobs" and we are very proud of the voluntary tradition of our mountain search and rescue service."

So it is a service. A rescue service. Granted they don't generally deal with motor vehicle breakdowns.

Semantics Colin - 'It's not a service, (its not like the RAC) I said.

Anyone who goes to the hills with the following approach, "At the end of the day the rescuers are there to get people off mountains", perhaps should reconsider and take up another less risky activity.

Also Colin, you might like to find a book (lots of them around) that will provide a history of both Mountaineering and how the closely associated Mountain Rescue evolved over the years.

How on earth can anyone get gripped on Cat Bells? How would the gentleman cope with something really difficult, like navigating across a Tesco car park ?

Dave

Ian512 - Where on earth in this article does it say the man who was rescued ,’Went to the hills with the following approach “at the end of the day the rescuers are there to get people off mountains” ‘?!?! What a massive sweeping presumption you have made! There is no reference at all within that article about the mans level of experience or reason for his ‘paralysing’! He could have easily been an experienced hill walker suddenly having some unknown about unrelated medical episode!!
So many sweeping presumptions in these comments about a man and an incident that none of you were witness or have any genuine information about! Got smacked to say the least!