News
Celebrating women in mountain rescue on International Women’s Day
Meet most of the Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team women! Thank you for all you do.
Fundraising
Jamie fundraising for WMRT
Jamie recently contacted the team to say he is running the Manchester Marathon to raise funds for our team. Jamie is running in remembrance of Alex who was tragically, fatally injured after an accident on Scafell in July 2023 (WMRT incident 92 of 2023) Jamie, here at Wasdale MRT we remain extremely sorry for your loss but thank you enormously for your fundraising efforts If all our followers could click the link, read Jamie’s story,and, Read more…
Training
2024 Probationer Intake
Last week we were delighted to welcome our new probationary intake for this year. We wish them all the best and thank them in advance for their commitment to the team.
Press Releases
MBE for Penny Kirby
Penny Kirby, Duty Team Leader of Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team has been recognised in the New Years Honours. Penny is one of four Operational Duty Team Leaders within the Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team with over 40 years voluntary service. Penny is also a highly experienced Lake District Search Dog Handler with a similar number of years voluntary service and has made many successful finds with her four previous search dogs and now Jess. In her Read more…
Fundraising
Fundraising in Egremont and Whitehaven
Members of the team were in Egremont on Saturday 16 December and in Whitehaven on Saturday 23 December for the annual fundraising event in the towns. It was great to talk to so many people and we were so grateful once again for the generosity and support shown to us. Huge thanks also to Lea Somerfield who bought a gift card from Greggs and allowed us a ‘free bar’ for coffees, and snacks. The weather Read more…
Fundraising
Lakeland Lights Company – Advent Calendar
Lakeland Lights Company are a small family team of candle makers based in Cleator Moor. This year they’ve developed their Wax Melt Advent Calendar with a search and rescue theme in honour of the Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team with £1 from every sale being donated to the cause. There are 24 different scented wax melts from their range of scents named after and inspired by their favourite Cumbrian and North Wales locations. If you’re wanting Read more…
News
Fell runner Finlay Wild
Team member Chad’s latest podcast – listen to this episode from Fell World on Spotify. This weeks guest is the brilliant Finlay Wild who doesn’t take much introducing to most fell runners. A gentleman and great to chat with from things like diet through to his favourite race. Finlay Wild on Fell World. – Fell World | Podcast on Spotify
News
Points of Light award for Penny Kirby
Huge congratulations to Penny for receiving the Points of Light award! https://www.pointsoflight.gov.uk/mountain-rescue-hero/ Mountain Rescue Hero 2179. Penny Kirby Penny Kirby, from Cumbria, has spent over 40 years rescuing hundreds of people who have encountered trouble on England’s highest mountain and across the Lake District. Penny is one of four leaders of ‘Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team’, which was established in 1968 to aid those needing help in Wasdale and Eskdale. Penny became involved with the rescue Read more…
Press Releases
New Lake District Drone Technology
Well done to those involved in developing this technology, a fantastic new capability for difficult searches. Confirming a sad outcome this time, but potentially life saving in the future.
News
Mountain Rescue England and Wales – Callouts 2019-2023
To commemorate the amazing work that everyone does in Mountain Rescue England and Wales, Ordnance Survey has created this data visualisation using call-out data from 2019-2023, showing the most common areas that Mountain Rescue attend to. Thank you to all team members who are on call 24 hours a day 365 days a year. #OSMaps #UKHikes #HikingKit #WinterHiking #AdventureSmart
AdventureSmart
Winter advice
We know we go on about carrying a head torch but it’s such an easy thing to do and can make a huge difference – especially as British Summer Time has ended and it gets darker much earlier. Please don’t rely on your phone as a torch – save some battery for the phone in case you need it in an emergency. #BeAdventureSmart
Local Community
Workington Fire Service Community Event
Team members attended the Workington Fire Service community event today.
Local Community
Wasdale Show
Sunshine, showers and rainbows yesterday at Wasdale Show. Lots of people to talk to, and plenty who volunteered to model our special leg splint. Thanks for all the support and generosity. We raised £435 for the team.
Training
Swiftwater Rescue Training
Some excellent training with our neighbouring teams today! This was a joint session for Swiftwater Rescue Technicians with Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team, Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team and Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team on the Leven today. High river levels made for some energetic training conditions – perfect practice for the real thing……
Local Community
Eskdale Show
Lots of interest and engagement at the Eskdale Show today, despite the rainy weather. We made £278.44 in sales and donations from all the generous people who visited our stall. Thank you to all for making WMRT possible!
Fundraising
Young fundraiser Frankie McMillan – Mount Olympus challenge
Seven-year-old Frankie McMillan, and his mum have returned back home to Cumbria after their epic challenge to become the youngest British person to climb Mt. Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece at 2,917 metres (3 x Scafell Pike) on 2 September 2023. This was just weeks after finishing his 214 Wainright Peaks challenge on Lingmell. Frankie desperately wanted to raise money for our team and promote #BeAdventureSmart safety awareness. Just under £300 is now needed Read more…
News
Chris Lewis – Patterdale MRT Member
On 6 February 2021, during a rescue, as a member of Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team Chris was very seriously injured following a 150-metre fall. His injuries were life-changing. It is with great sadness that he passed away recently after a short illness. Our thoughts are with his family, his friends and Patterdale MRT colleagues.
Training
WMRT at the National Medical Conference
Some of our Team were at the Mountain Rescue England and Wales Medical Conference. With lectures and practical demonstrations, it was a great chance for us to hone skills, try out new kit, and share experiences with other teams. Thanks to our friends at Langdale and Ambleside for funding the weekend.
Local Community
Gosforth Show
After a ferociously windy start, the Gosforth Show settled down into a really good day. The sun shone, lots of people came and WMRT made £325.14 from sales of merchandise and contributions. Big thanks to everyone for supporting us. Join us next at Eskdale Show 30th September. See you there!
News
40 years service for Penny Kirby
The team recently congratulated Penny Kirby on reaching the fantastic milestone of 40 years as a member of Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team. The story of her arriving in the team is somewhat serendipitous; she was climbing with friends on Skye, and in the famous Sligachan pub afterwards got talking with others about their adventures of the day. The amazing thing is that one of the those people was a Wasdale MRT team member, and they Read more…