Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team has been assisting people in the western fells of the Lake District for over 50 years. We cover England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike, and respond to over one hundred calls for help each year. The team consists of approximately forty ‘professional volunteers’ who give their time to help those in need, whatever the weather, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For more information please read our about page. We rely on generous donations from the public to fund the team. Once a year, we recruit a new intake of probationary members.
Recent Rescues
Scafell Pike – Tue 2nd Jan 2024
A brief alert yesterday when a walker had run out of charge on his phone having previously messaged to a family member that he was lost in the mountains. A photo sent earlier suggested Wast Water as a backdrop. With not much information to work with to plan a search, a further call to say that the walker had made his own way down and was in the car was gratefully received, and the team was stood down. https://www.adventuresmart.uk/ #BeAdventureSmart and make a good day better. Ask yourself three questions before you set off: 1. Do I have the right…
Walkmill, Whitehaven – Mon 1st Jan 2024
In the third callout of the day, Cumbria Police requested support to search for a missing person. The Team Leader initially requested the drone team, who were able to be released from the Penrith MRT search and travel back by that point. A full callout was subsequently made for a detailed ground search. Fortunately, some time afterwards we received the good news that the police had located the missing person elsewhere and the team stood down and returned to base.
Lingmell Col, Scafell Pike – Mon 1st Jan 2024
Another call was received early on New Year’s Day about a lone walker who was lost on the descent from Scafell Pike, heading towards Piers Gill rather than the tourist path to Brackenclose. He was very cold, wet and concerned for his safety. Fortunately the Team Leader was able to locate the walker using Phonefind and then provide guidance to give confidence to the walker that he was moving in the right direction. Further Phonefinds at regular intervals prevented the need for team members to be deployed on the fell. A good outcome, given the planned deployment of help to…
Cumbria – Mon 1st Jan 2024
A very sad start to the New Year. We were asked to support Penrith MRT for a large scale search in the North Pennines, along with many other Lakes MRT teams and other agencies. Two land search teams and the drone team were deployed to assist. Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with family and friends. Penrith Mountain Rescue Team 6 d · Callout 38 Date: 31st December 2023 Start time: 17:45 Location: Cross Fell, North Pennines Incident Type: Search Other Agencies: Kirkby Stephen MRT, Kendal MRT, Wasdale MRT, Patterdale MRT, Cockermouth MRT, Langdale MRT, Duddon and Furness MRT, Keswick MRT,…
Cam Spout, Scafell – Sun 10th Dec 2023
A call was received from North West Ambulance Service about a walker with a leg injury high up on Scafell Pike. Due to weather conditions and the potential for a long carry, a full callout was swiftly made with help also requested from Duddon and Furness MRT. Coastguard helicopter support was also requested and R936 responded. As direct contact by mobile phone was not possible, the Team Leader tasked a DFMRT party to access the casualty location from Eskdale, with the remainder ascending from Brackenclose and Mickledore. Rescue 936 attempted to approach from multiple directions but was thwarted by low…
Sty Head – Sat 9th Dec 2023
A call was received from Cumbria Police about two lost and walkers. They were cold and wet having been out in poor weather (named storm) all day. As darkness fell they became concerned for their safety. Fortunately for them they were able to contact the iPhone emergency centre, having no signal to call 999. As a location was also obtained, the Team Leader tasked a small hill party to go to the location and escort the walkers to safety. This was able to be achieved, with due care taken crossing high water levels in the becks. The walkers were taken…