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
Corridor Route, Scafell Pike – Fri 11th Jul 2025
A second evening call was received from Cumbria Police when a walker had fallen after a long day on the fells and was now struggling to make progress. Again, they were moving slowly, but with a risk that things would worsen. The Team Leader made contact with the party and asked them to make their way towards Lingmell Col, where team members were already ascending towards the first callout. Once on scene, the walker was assessed and stoically preferred to continue walking without assistance. Again, under the watchful eyes of team members, the walker was able to descend safely to…
Scafell Pike – Fri 11th Jul 2025
A call was received about a walker who was suffering from cramp and struggling to make progress. He also has a leg injury. Progress was being made, but very slowly. A full team callout was made, and Duddon and Furness MRT was asked for assistance due to slightly low numbers on a warm evening. Once on scene an assessment was made, and it was agreed that the walker could continue to make slow but steady progress. He managed to achieve the descent to Brackenclose under the watchful eyes of a few team members. Others were diverted to a second call…
Sty Head – Wed 9th Jul 2025
A call was received via @keswickmrt , about a walker stating they were stranded on steep ground, near Sty Head. It was received via the iPhone satellite text service. The Team Leader attempted to make contact, without success, so a callout was made. Communications with the satellite emergency service are text messages only, and it was established that a party of 4 had undertaken a very long day out, when then walker was struggling on some steep ground. The others had then left him to continue their walk. Team members made their way to the location indicated from the initial message, but…
Upper Eskdale – Sat 5th Jul 2025
A call was received via Langdale Ambleside MRT, about a fell runner in an organised race showing the symptoms of hypothermia, appearing confused and stumbling. Other fell runners were assisting her to the next checkpoint. The Team Leader requested support from Duddon and Furness MRT due to slightly low numbers, and as they would likely be able to access the fell runner more quickly from their base. They responded quickly. The race paramedics also responded and were first to meet the descending party in Moasdale, close to Cockley Beck. Duddon and Furness MRT were on scene shortly afterwards, by which…
Langdale – Fri 4th Jul 2025
A call was received from Cumbria Police after a concerned family member reported a party of three that had not been heard from for 24 hours after leaving Wasdale for Langdale. Mobile signals are patchy to non-existent in certain areas of the high fells and valleys. However, after further investigation, the Team Leader contacted Langdale Ambleside MRT in case a search became necessary. Happily, after some time contact was made with the group having completed their route successfully, and both teams stood down.
Corridor Route, Scafell Pike – Tue 1st Jul 2025
A call was received from Cumbria Police; two dogs had become exhausted and were ‘staying put’ after a long day out ascending Scafell Pike the long way around from Wrynose Pass. The call had initially gone to Penrith MRT in error but then re-routed quickly. The group of three walkers were now getting cold in misty and wet conditions. In an awkward location, a full team callout was made, with the distinct possibility of a long night ahead. However, it was a very nice surprise to find one of the walkers and the two dogs at Gavel Neese very early…