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
Kirkfell – Sat 31st May 2025
A call was received from Cumbria Police when a walker was reported significantly overdue. He was planning to visit the waterfalls at Ill Gill on Kirk Fell but had not returned to Wasdale Head when expected. A full callout was made to have sufficient resources to search and rescue from within the gill, including drone capability for a rapid search of the hazardous area. Extra help was given once again from Duddon MRT. However, as the team was starting the ground search, the good news was received that the walker had come back into mobile signal and was now in…
Scafell Pike – Sat 31st May 2025
A short alert was quickly resolved after a call was received from Cumbria Police. Two walkers had become separated from the rest of their walking party and could not be contacted. They were concerned that they were now lost. However, a PhoneFind was able to confirm their location and then the Team Leader was able to speak with them. They had re-found the path and were heading down with no need for MRT support. 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 GEAR ? 2. Do…
Sty Head – Sat 31st May 2025
The Team Leader was called yesterday by Keswick MRT for some help as they were handling multiple callouts and were slightly short on numbers for stretcher carry from Sty Head. A party of five volunteered to help and were heading down the valley when a further call confirmed that they now had things covered, and that we were able to stand down, leaving us with more resources for potential callouts on our own ‘patch’.
Cam Spout, Scafell – Fri 30th May 2025
A call was received yesterday evening from Cumbria Police. A young walker had separated from his family group in misty conditions shortly after beginning their descent from Scafell Pike summit. He had not been located after two and half hours, and there was growing concern for his safety. The Team Leader acted quickly to initiate search assets from many resources, including DFMRT, search dogs and a Coastguard helicopter Rescue R199 from Prestwick. A Coniston MRT team member camping locally with his family also kindly offered to help. Due to declining daylight and the possibility of a longer operation should the…
Brown Tongue, Scafell Pike – Mon 26th May 2025
The team was called by Cumbria Police on Monday evening about two walkers who were overdue from a walk up Scafell Pike. The Team Leader attempted to make contact but this was not possible despite repeated attempts. A full team callout was made when their friends received a call saying one of the walkers was struggling to make progress, falling frequently, was very cold and still an hour away from the valley. Their location was still unknown. A hasty search was planned with the main paths being covered, and as the first team was on the hill, a further 999…
Little Hell Gate, Great Gable – Sun 25th May 2025
Two walkers had called Cumbria Police to ask for assistance. They appeared to be on the traverse path at Little Hell Gate and had become afraid for their safety. It was also wet and windy and they were not well equipped for these conditions, so they were becoming very cold. All-in-all, quite intimidating conditions for inexperienced walkers. The Team Leader made a full team callout to account for the worst-case scenario. The advance party got to the walkers and found them wet and cold either side of the very loose scree slope of Little Hell Gate, albeit on the correct…