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
Beck Head, Great Gable – Sat 28th Jun 2025
Last Saturday, we were notified by Cockermouth MRT about a fell runner who had sustained an ankle injury. When the exact location was determined, it was in Wasdale’s patch. After a handover, the Wasdale MRT Team Leader swiftly called out the team. Once on scene the fell runner was assessed and the offending ankle splinted for extra stability. After transferring to the team stretcher, the tricky carry down to Gavel Neese was completed without incident. A handover to the awaiting ambulance crew was then undertaken, before returning to base to reset the vehicles. We hope the fell runner is recovering…
Upper Eskdale – Tue 24th Jun 2025
A second call of the day for a lost lone walker in wet and misty conditions on Scafell Pike. After some very patchy communications, it was determined that the lone walker was in Upper Eskdale. A callout was made and a team member in the valley was asked to go in advance with a shelter and warm clothing, with a further team member already on the fell diverting from their planned walk to attend. Directions were given to the walker on the safest route from Upper Eskdale out to the road. The advance party found the walker safe and well…
Piers Gill, Scafell Pike – Tue 24th Jun 2025
A call was received from Cumbria Police about a walker who was lost, cold and wet, having split from the rest of her group in misty conditions. The Team Leader spoke to the walker and located her exact position via PhoneFind. This put her close to the head of Piers Gill, but off the path, making a ‘talk off’ somewhat risky in the conditions. A full callout was made, with some team members already on the fell in the valley being asked to go direct as an advance party. However, not long afterwards, the walker phoned back to say two…
Esk Hause – Mon 23rd Jun 2025
The team was called about a party of four walkers being reported lost by a concerned friend. On further discussion with the informant, it transpired that 8 people were overdue in total. A larger group had split up earlier in the day. However, as the Team Leader was gathering his thoughts, further calls were received by the informant that some of the missing people had been in touch and were safely descending to Langdale (rather than their intended destination of Seathwaite). A lack of mobile phone coverage resulted in no contact for some time. The Team Leader mad a quick…
Scafell Pike – Sun 22nd Jun 2025
Another call was received from Cumbria Police in the early hours of Sunday. One member of a party attempting the three peaks had become separated and was now overdue. The rest of the group had turned around due to poor weather, but this walker wanted to continue alone. As time passed with no positive outcome, the Team Leader became concerned with poor weather and visibility making hypothermia a possibility. A callout was made, and due to low numbers, extra support from Duddon and Furness MRT was requested. Hasty searches commenced along all of the access paths to the Scafell Pike…
Scafell Pike – Sat 21st Jun 2025
A call was taken from Cumbria Police yesterday evening when a camper at the Brackenclose campsite was concerned when she noticed flashing lights on Scafell Pike. The Team Leader made some enquiries, but shortly afterwards the informant confirmed that the lights now seemed to be descending. With the additional knowledge that Scafell Pike would have a lot of 3 peakers on the fell with good mobile reception in this location, it was very unlikely that another call would not be placed if anyone was in need of help. The log was closed, a false alarm with good intent.