News

Raising awareness and funds for people with cystic fibrosis

One of our team members, Stephen Walter, will shortly take on a very challenging and different fundraising event. He is doing this to raise awareness and funds for PipersAngels, a charity that is helping him and other people with cystic fibrosis. His challenge is an 80mile open sea crossing across the Atlantic Gulf Stream overnight and through the day on 25th June 2023. He is doing this challenge on a 14ft stand-up paddleboard (SUP). He Read more…

By John Bamforth, ago

Medical Monday

Great to have a sunny evening for our “Medical Monday” training this week! We went through several scenarios of incidents we may come across, and a refresher on our medical equipment to keep our skills fresh for what is looking to be a very busy summer. Our team are on standby 24 hours a day 365 days a year, we are all unpaid volunteers and rely on donations to operate. If you’re able to and Read more…

By John Bamforth, ago

2023 AdventureSmart Campaign

Dear Follower – this is what i have just sent out as a press release from LDSAMRA. It was a relatively slow start to 2023 with respect to numbers of callouts for our 12 rescue teams with over 400 volunteer team members but things have now caught up with previous record levels. With 182 callouts since the start of 2023, April has experience our busiest increase with 56 calls for help via ‘999’ to Cumbria Read more…

By John Bamforth, ago

Please support one of our members raising funds for the team on the Fred Whitton

One of our team members, Andy Cramp, is raising funds for the team in May by partaking in the Fred Whitton cycling event. It’s a very tough day at 112 miles and over 3500m of ascent, so Andy will need all the advance encouragement he can get! If you’d like to help him and us you can donate below…. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/andrew-cramp2?utm_source=messenger&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=andrew-cramp2&utm_campaign=pfp-share&utm_term=5c2f4b06f6ca4646ae259799be3c2290

By John Bamforth, ago

WMRT at Brackenclose on Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday is one of the busiest days of the year for visitors to Scafell Pike, and this year members of the team were on hand close to the NT Brackenclose car park offering advice and guidance to walkers. Lots of positive engagement with people, some quality merchandise on offer and good banter made for a very enjoyable morning, and hopefully resulted in more people staying safe.

By John Bamforth, ago

Women Mountain Rescue Volunteers

To mark International Women’s Day we’re joining mountain rescue teams throughout the country in celebrating the amazing women we have volunteering on our teams. We’re lucky to have a supportive welcoming team at Wasdale and we encourage more women to get involved!

By John Bamforth, ago

Using GPS devices and smartphones as electronic navigation aids

A recent article on the Mountaineering Scotland website provides excellent advice on navigation including the pitfalls of using GPS devices and smartphones as  electronic navigation aids . A recent 20 hour search for a lost walker Scafell Pike / Broad Crag/ Great End involved over 70 rescuers and could have been avoided if reliance had not been placed on a mobile phone for navigation. The walker was extremely lucky to survive his ordeal on the mountain Read more…

By John Bamforth, ago

1st Hensingham Scout Group Visit

There was a bit of drama at Scouts this week, 3 of our leaders carelessly managed to injure themselves on the field … luckily Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team were visiting & quickly organised our #Scouts into a rescue party! Thanks to the MRT volunteers for a really interesting couple of nights learning about the valuable work they do. #SkillsForLife #CumbriaScouts

By John Bamforth, ago

Lone walker lost on Scafell Pike / Great End: A 24-hour rescue involving over 70 rescuers, 5 search dogs and 2 drones

Wasdale Mountain Rescue team were alerted by Cumbria Police at 18.26 hrs on Monday 20 February about a lone walker who had reported himself as lost on the ridge between Scafell Pike and Great End in the Lake District. Mobile phone reception was very poor, but a location was quickly established and although the weather was deteriorating with thick mist and rain, he was asked to stay where he was and shelter from the wind. Read more…

By John Bamforth, ago

West Cumbria Home Education group visit

Earlier this week we were delighted to host the West Cumbria Home Education group at our base. Team members organised activities to demonstrate: key first aid skills and knowledge; map reading and radios; and the range of equipment in our response vehicles. We had a great afternoon and we hope everyone else enjoyed themselves as much too!

By John Bamforth, ago

Trainee Search Dog Tilly

A very warm welcome to our newest team member! Tilly and her trainee handler Mike, have just started their training with Lake District Mountain Rescue Searchdogs. We wish them well and every success in their future training.

By John Bamforth, ago

Podcast – Episode #2 – Wendy Dodds

You might be interested in a new podcast hosted by one of our team members, Chad Dixon. In this episode he talks with the legendary fell runner, Wendy Dodds. In the first episode, Chad talked with John and Susan Noake, who between them have over 100 years of service to Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team! https://open.spotify.com/episode/1C3BZYmfpM9AK81L995HXO?si=JLa8nGFXS9OQvwmXToQ7Qw&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A3zDRIXz8kht5J6UYoCUraU&nd=1 You can also access Episode #1 via the link

By John Bamforth, ago

Class of 2022 Success

We are delighted to announce that last night the ‘class of 2022’ probationers successfully completed their final hill assessment with 8 becoming full team members with an additional 2 to follow. All the group have been a credit to themselves individually and as a group and are welcomed into the team. Congratulations from the whole team.

By John Bamforth, ago

Video of a callout

For those interested, here’s a short video showing sections of the callout and stretcher carry from our last callout. It illustrates why we need many team members for a long carry from the high fells…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbxd7wG5Bhs

By John Bamforth, ago

Welcome to the Dark Side

Sunday 30 October is Mountain Rescue Awareness Day as well as being the first full day after the UK clocks go back. As the days shorten and the evenings draw in, it gets darker earlier in the afternoons and it’s a good time to think about safety for your day in the mountains during the colder months. https://www.mountain.rescue.org.uk/2022/10/welcome-to-the-dark-side/  

By John Bamforth, ago