Annual Report Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team.

Transcription

1 Annual Report 2011 Mountain Rescue Team

2 Founded in 1953 A registered charity. No President: Maureen Richardson Vice-Presidents: Dr. Edward Holloway, Jim Hall, Mike Thompson Chairman: Steve Brailey Team Leader: Michael Park Secretary: Gwyn Lewis, PO Box 73, CA13 3AE, , gwyn@cockermouthmrt.org.uk Assistant Secretary: Richard Hellen Treasurer: Jeff Haslam Medical Officers: Dr. Mark Steel, Dr. Jo Grove, Dr. Peter Hemingway, Dr Peter Winterbottom Assistant Team Leaders: Steve Brailey, Chris Cookson, Andrew McNeil Abbot, C...Bank Manager (Retired) Blanden, D...Building Surveyor Brailey, S....Local Government Officer Bulman, J...Health & Safety Advisor Butler, R....Teacher Connolly L....Physiotherapist Connolly, N....Outdoor Instructor Cookson, C....Project Team Manager Cousins, I....Software Engineer Coyle, J. BEM...Estate Manager (Retired) Dawson, P....Schoolteacher Dempster, J. MBE...Headteacher (Retired) Goodman, S....Teacher Graham, A....Chartered Surveyor Greenwood, R....Chartered Engineer Grove, J....General Practitioner Hadwin, M....Manager Haslam, J...ICT Advisor Hellen, R...Dental Practitioner Hemingway, P...General Practitioner Team Officials Call-out List l Design and production donated by Denise Bell & Andy Smith Smith+Bell Design ( The Team responsible for rescuing people and animals from the Lorton, Loweswater, Buttermere and Ennerdale areas 57th Annual Report Radio Officers: Richard Greenwood, Rod Moore Quartermasters: John Bulman, Russell Butler, Neil Connolly, Chris Cookson, Jim Coyle, Simon Hunter, Andrew McNeil, James Moore, Martin Pickavance, Derek Tunstall Development Manager: Chris Abbot , chris.abbot1953@btinternet.com Collecting Box Co-ordinator: Derek Tunstall MBE Auditor: Gibbons & Co. Honorary Members: Maurice Anderson, George Williams Hunter, S....Env. Technical Manager Irving, A....Project Engineer Jones, S....Dental Surgeon Lewis, G....Operations Manager Liddell, R....Headteacher (Retired) Lumb, N....Outdoor Instructor McNeil, A....Building Surveyor Moore J....Chartered Engineer Moore, R. MBE...Support Engineer Norman, P....Draughtsman Otley, C...Comm. Dev. Worker Outhwaite, R....Local Gov. Officer Park, M....Land Surveyor Pickavance, M....Teacher Steel, M....General Practitioner Tunstall, D. MBE...Mechanical Fitter Twyford, P....Solicitor Whitehurst, S....Orthodontist Winterbottom, P....General Practitioner Woodbury, S....Research Technologist l Printed by: Reeds, Penrith ( The year 2009 was an extraordinary one for the area, and the rescue Team as a result of the November floods. We also had a record number of mountain rescue call-outs: has been another extraordinary year for the Team with a new record 80 call-outs; a sample of these shows the range and diversity of incidents the Team is called to by the Police and other agencies: l Male seriously injured in a hang glider accident near Lorton ; l Road ambulance stuck on ice at the top of a hill near Harrington harbour with a casualty on board ; l Twenty-two-year-old woman fallen 80 metres whilst descending by Pillar Rock sustaining head, spine and arm injuries ; l Keswick Mountain Rescue Team request assistance with a serious bus crash with multiple casualties on the A66 ; l Casualties hurt in lightning strike on Lad Hows, Grasmoor and several other calls received at the same time of CHAIRMAN S REPORT Another extraordinary year other people struck by lightning ; l Request to search roadside areas in West Cumbria following a major incident on the West Coast involving a gunman and 12 fatalities ; l A group of five female walkers from Cheshire unable to cross a swollen beck in Ennerdale trapped in torrential rain with rising water levels ; l A 72-year-old male walker and 10-year-old grandson failed to turn up at Gillerthwaite Youth Hostel tonight having left Wasdale at 08:30 in the morning ; l Transport needed on snow covered roads for a care worker to a patient in High Lorton ; l Fifty-six-year-old fellwalker collapsed with a suspected heart attack on the Scarth Gap footpath ; l A party of 19 people from Gillerthwaite Youth hostel Ennerdale stranded in snow and icy conditions, and l Two sheep stuck on High Crag, Buttermere. Most of our Team members work full time and rely on the goodwill of their employers to allow them time off to attend incidents. Many are also selfemployed and the time away from work is business lost. With such a large number of incidents in 2010 I would like to express our thanks to all our employers for supporting us. Following the floods, the town of has moved on, and is now fully open for business and visitors. It s great to see the colourful independent shops back in business, with some welcome additions. It s these businesses who despite their own difficulties over the last 12 months have continued to support the Team. The Chamber of Trade raised 4,700 for a new inflatable rescue craft, a bespoke design meeting the Team s own specialist requirements. Local author David Ramshaw, with the help of Team member Derek Tunstall MBE, raised 11,000 for the Team from sales of an excellent book of photographs of the floods. Published quickly after the floods, the book filled a need, for locals and visitors alike who wanted something as a s

3 focus for sharing their experiences. One of the more unusual fundraising efforts was by Wraysbury Skiff & Punting Club and Windsor Castle pub who saw the flooding emergency on television and set about raising over 3,000 from events including a charity auction with an oar signed by British Olympic rowers; a fantastic effort. Amongst the many local fundraising efforts was CockRock music festival s 4,000 for new Team lighting and towards other equipment, and donations from the Mechanics Band, Castlegate Gallery, Lions Club, the local Soaring Club with a parapenting event held near Buttermere, Workington Ladies Guild, the local branch of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, and hundreds of s Cockrock organisers present their cheque. pounds from a range of local schools. Some larger businesses in the area have also generously donated including 1,200 from Direct Rail Services in Carlisle, 1,000 from e-on Robin Rigg wind farm, and 1,000 from Hearthstone Homes. It would be impossible for me to mention all the generous donations received in 2010, many from casualties or their friends and relatives, including 1,000 raised by the girlfriend of a teenager tragically killed on Eagle Crag. Thank you, thank you to all. All the incidents detailed earlier not only required our trained Team members but the equipment, funded by donations to actually carry out the rescues; the 4 x 4 Landrover ambulances to transport casualties in the snow, the buoyancy aids to protect those trapped by flooded rivers, the high power lights to search the mountains at night for the missing grandfather and his 10-yearold grandson, the body monitor to check on the casualty with the heart attack, and the ropes, climbing sling and carabiners to secure a sheep that s trying to jump off the crag ledge rather than be rescued from it! Many of our rescues in 2010 were undertaken with other organisations and other rescue Teams. On behalf of the Team I would like to thank the other Lake District mountain rescue Teams, Teesdale & Weardale SMRT, the Police, Ambulance and Fire & Rescue services, RAF and Royal Navy search and rescue helicopters and the Air Ambulances. Steve Brailey, Chairman As Steve has reported in the Chairman s Report, 2011 was yet another extraordinary year for the Team, not only in the increased numbers of callouts but in the workload this has brought to the Team. This increased workload is not just about Team members turning out to more call-outs, but the increased time and commitment each and every one of them has unselfishly given in doing the backroom work the practices, the courses, the talks and the fund-raising. A further draw on their commitment to the Team has been the time spent discussing and considering how we fulfil our role as a Mountain Rescue Team and how we move forward in these ever-changing times. I am extremely proud of how this Team can take on change and adapt to circumstances always with a smile, never without a laugh and always pulling somebody s leg. Nationally, and probably still regionally, there is work to be done in defining the direction that Mountain Rescue needs to move. However, I am happy that Mountain TEAM LEADER S REPORT Extremely proud of this Team Rescue Team knows where and how it will move forward. Mountain Rescue England Wales, MREW (the national representative body) and Lake District Search And Mountain Rescue Association, LDSAMRA (our regional representative body) may try to influence this direction, but this Team will only be influenced if it means enjoying what we do, because if we ain t smiling, we are doing it wrong. So why is it we continue to get busier? Is it because the fells have become more dangerous? Is it because the weather is more unpredictable? Is it because it now gets dark at night? (This fact seems to still surprise people walking our fells!) Is it because people are not as wellequipped, or is it because the people we rescue do not know how to use the abundance of equipment they seem to have? Is it now because we live in a nanny state, where people expect a rescue service will always be available when they have the slightest mishap and seem surprised to discover that we as a Team are made up of entirely unpaid volunteers, who are no different than themselves? I can t give one single answer to why we are continuing to get busier; I can only review the call-outs and see trends. As Steve mentioned, some of the callouts this year stand out from the rest, more so in that they have had a local trend. Many of us know directly or indirectly the families associated with the multiple casualties from the A66 bus crash. Many people in West Cumbria know someone affected by the West Cumbrian shootings. We ended the year searching for a local woman, Deborah Pearson, who was reported missing from her home in Thornthwaite. This involved many hours of searching, not just by our Team, but from many other Teams from across the Lakes and beyond the county. Unfortunately this search had a tragic outcome with Deborah s body being found a month later in Whinlatter Forest. I would like to take s

4 this opportunity now to pass on the Team s condolences to all of Deborah s family, including Alison, Steve and their children, in their loss of a sister and aunt. Our hearts go out to you. Mark will mention in more detail the woman from Oxford who fell 80m in West Waterfall Gully on Pillar, and the subsequent rescue involving both the Great North Air Ambulance and the Royal Navy Gannet chopper. Needless to say, I was a very happy chappie watching the Team efficiently running up the hill to the scene of the accident. To quote our colleagues from Keswick or East as they are better known it was good to see the Big Friendly Machine of a Rescue Team. Another rescue of significance was the group of five young women from Cheshire who became trapped by swollen becks at the head of Ennerdale. It is this particular call-out for me that reminds me why I do this, and why it matters! These girls, all friends still at school, had decided to come to the Lakes at the start of their summer holidays, to spend two or three days and nights walking and camping on the fells. On the second day torrential rain brought the river levels up and turned what is normally a gentle couple of steps and a jump beck into a raging torrent. The girls attempted to cross, but one of them was swept off her feet and down the river. She was s Loft Beck call-out 49. lucky to be pulled out by her companions, unhurt but very shaken. Now yes, the girls had made a mistake in attempting to cross the beck in such a dangerous state. But they then got their act back together. They stuck together, got a tent over their heads, called the Police, requesting Mountain Rescue, gave an accurate location and stayed put until the Team arrived. We subsequently brought them across the beck using SRT gear. It felt weird running up the fell in a dry suit and buoyancy aid! We took them to the remote Black Sail Youth Hostel. Most of their gear and clothes were completely soaked, but, instead of just packing in their adventure (a decision I feel many more experienced fell walkers would have taken), these girls (with the minimum of encouragement from the Team) recognised that they could take back control of the situation. It would have made no odds to us, as a Team, to bring these girls back to, call up their parents and arrange their transport back to Chester. However, I am pleased to say that the girls sorted themselves out, dried their kit and continued on with their walk the next day. I expect those girls will remember this incident for the rest of their lives. I expect they will draw on this experience in later life when another crisis occurs. And this is why what we do matters. Finally, but most importantly, our time and commitment to this Team wouldn t happen without the tremendous sacrifice our wives, partners, children, families and friends make, in order that we can do what we do, and therefore, as always, my biggest thanks go out to them. Mike Park, Team Leader MEDICAL OFFICER S REPORT A run the like we had never seen before The year started with the completion of the tri-annual first aid exam and we must thank the doctors and nurses who once again gave up their free time to supervise the scenarios. Thanks also to Dr Sean Hudson for his interesting (and gory) hypothermia talk and Practice nurse and ex-a/e nurse Jelka Foster who advised us with some similarly gory slides on wound management. The written paper this time was much harder than in previous years and, sadly, more than the usual number of members did not pass this part, despite doing well in the scenarios. For such a practical subject I think this is a problem with the exam rather than our Team members and I hope it is sorted out for the next round. The new propac has proved a dream, not only due to its low weight but also its intuitive controls. Thanks once again to Cock Rock who provided the funds for this with their extremely healthy donation. Our Team leader and secretary mention the record number of call outs in 2010 but I would like to emphasise the inevitable psychological and physical strain this number of rescues causes to an organisation made up of members also trying to make a living and have a normal family life. This strain was not only due to the number, but also the type, of call-out. In May we had the unpleasant duty of attending the A66 bus crash, which sadly cost the life of two Keswick school pupils and changed the lives of many others for ever. I vividly remember the dread I felt on the journey to Braithtwaite with the prospect of dealing with injured children and distressed parents. Fortunately it turned out the emergency services had matters in hand and we were to be used to provide extra stretchers and to liaise with the Sea King helicopters that were transferring the injured to hospital. Two days later North Cumbria was then the recipient of a huge and unexpected thunderstorm which caught several groups of walkers on exposed summits and ridges, where some were struck by lightning and others were knocked over by the blast. I was safely stuck in work but I was concerned for the Team as the only safe time to approach a victim of lightning strike is after the storm has gone! The old mantra I use when approaching a trauma scene, what s to stop what has happened to the victim happening to me rings true. There was some bold flying from the Air Ambulance that day and they seemed to just beat our Team to each site as the storm moved over the fells. The casualties were flown to West Cumberland where the staff rapidly became experts in the management of lightning injuries which, due to the extreme high voltage, are quite different to thermal burns and domestic electrocutions. The conventionally shocked bystanders were escorted down by our lads! One week later on 2nd June, West Cumbria was again rocked this time by Derrick Bird, who while previously seeming to be an ordinary bloke, went on a shooting spree more reminiscent of the wild west of America. We all s

5 have our stories of near misses and of loved ones whose whereabouts we didn t know, and some have much more tragic and horrifying tales. The feeling at the time was that we wanted to do something and, although there was no call for our casualty care skills, we were more than willing to help with searching field boundaries along the rural roads in case victims were lying undiscovered. We then entered a run of call-outs the like of which we have never seen before. We had an average of a call-out every two days for two months and in July, one every day for 12 days! Two days after the shootings we had another sad call-out when we were called, along with the air ambulance, to a 16-year-old boy who had fallen while scrambling on Eagle crag, Birtness Combe. He along with a group of friends, were on their first trip to the Lakes without parents. Sadly, despite the paramedics and our best efforts, he died from his injuries and Dr Pete Hemingway had the unpleasant task of relating this to his parents. Following on from the floods of November 2009, the whole Team, and Cumbrians generally, were by now feeling well and truly battered! While most injuries were the usual ankle fractures we did have some more unusual problems. We had two cases of anaphylaxis fortunately both seemed to resolve with minimal intervention but s potentially these could have been very dangerous for the person involved. To underline the dangers of the Cumbrian climate we even had a hypothermic casualty in July! The Air Ambulance have been much more evident this year in our call-outs which I think has followed the Police control policy of informing the ambulance service before us, when injured casualties ask for mountain rescue. It s not to say however that just because the Air Ambulance attends we are not needed as more often than not the helicopter cannot put down adjacent to the casualty and we are needed to carry the stretcher to the landing site. This can work extremely well, such as the gentleman who suffered a heart attack on the Scarth Gap path on a beautiful flying day in August, who was flown direct to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough, where he received state-of-theart treatment much quicker than if he had taken the usual pathway. It also worked well in May when Mike Park and I were airlifted into West Water fall gully, Pillar, to assist a young woman who had fallen 80 metres, which is mentioned elsewhere in the Team report. There have been other times however when casualties in retrospect haven t had significant injuries, where the risks of a helicopter flight might not be justified. At times we haven t been called until the helicopter or ambulance crew have found that they are unable to reach the casualty, causing unnecessary delays, as our response time is at best 30 minutes and often longer. I know our Team leaders are working hard to improve our coordination with air resources in call-outs. And finally, there was at least one call out that brought a smile to our faces. A 91-yearold man who was benighted on a walk in Warnscale Bottom. He even turned up before we needed to go out onto the fell. It would be nice if we were all walking the fells into our 10th decade! Dr Mark Steel RADIO OFFICER S REPORT New kit meant busy first year in role, over The landmark radio event of 2010 involved replacing the antenna mast at the Buttermere valley remote transmitter site. This was always going to be a difficult project, from establishing exactly who owned the site, through to obtaining planning permission, designing the base slab and finally installing a new 10 metre-high structure. Fortunately, all the professional skills we needed to carry out this work were available within the Team, enabling us to complete the project for minimal cost. My thanks go to Andrew, Dave, Pete and Andy. The Team s radio systems have continued to work well over the past year; in particular the addition of GPS tracking to all our Team vehicles has aided our base operators. My thanks go to Jim for fitting the new GPS aerials. Having a ruggedised laptop to run the GPS tracking system from the Landrovers has proved really helpful during searches in snowy conditions. Some minor teething problems have occurred with the radios bought to replace those lost in the 2009 floods but our supplier, Team Simoco, has made every effort to put these right. Our mountain rescue communications network functions independently of other local infrastructures and this is a great asset to the Team and the local community. The current emphasis on resilience will only highlight the importance of our own, and neighbouring, Lake District Teams networks in the future was my first year as Radio Officer, taking over from Rod Moore, as he spends more time in his camper van! My lasting memory of Rod as Radio Officer will always be him sitting in the training area patiently putting together working radios from a pile of flood-damaged bits. These sorts of skills just aren t taught any more! Richard Greenwood, Radio Officer

6 DEVELOPMENT MANAGER S REPORT Thanks for keeping me busy keep it up! You have already read or heard that this has been a rather busy year, in fact on one occasion, instead of the usual, We have a call out, it was Here we go again! It has also been a busy one on another front, rather a pleasant one, and that has been to meet, talk to or write to the numerous people and organisations who have supported us during the past twelve months. During the year I met a couple from America who were walking the Coast-to-Coast. About three years ago they tried to do the walk but only reached the head of Ennerdale before needing our services. This time they were successful! The knowledge and enthusiasm displayed by the children on school visits to the base is very encouraging. It may have something to do with the fact that search dog Jake is allowed, on occasions, to join us! Our attendance at local shows continues and, if you see our vehicle or stall, please come along and make yourself known it s good to have a chat. My first report in 1995 mentioned the decision to make our Team s official logo/badge the one featuring Pillar Mountain and last year saw our clothing merchandise featuring the same badge but in a smaller, more attractive format. If you have not purchased a fleece, sweatshirt or woolly hat then you are missing out. May I suggest you go to the centre spread (which you can safely pull out and send to us with your orders without ruining the rest of the book) or that you look on our website at for the full range of our support items. Do you know that our first enquiry through the internet came from Los Angeles in 1996? That same year, our Annual Report was printed in the format you see today, but much has been done by our present designers to make it even more attractive. I hope that you agree. Don t forget then to look us up and I look forward to receiving your order for merchandise! Chris Abbot, Development Manager A big cheque from Direct Rail Services! Letter from Sainsbury s As part of our strong value to be making a positive difference in the local community, we at Sainsbury s select and support a Charity of the Year. Through a range of events, we and our customers help to raise money for these good causes. Following the devastating floods on 19th November 2009, our colleagues were all enthusiastic to support Mountain Rescue Team as a way of thanking them for the incredible efforts they put in during those terrible days. The Team kindly invited our colleague council to visit the HQ in order to find out more about the work they do. We were shown a DVD which highlighted the work done by the Team during that week. The skill, professionalism and bravery that were evident from Mountain Rescue was quite inspirational. They embody the local spirit that got the town through its darkest hour. We later were shown the control centre and some of the equipment that the Team uses in their operations. We were made to feel incredibly welcome and given the opportunity to handle the stretchers and were even privileged enough to strap up our store manager! (We did free him in the end.) Having been given the opportunity to ask more questions and very kindly given a plaque to commemorate our visit and mugs for all the council members, we all felt as though we had learnt an awful lot about a rather special group of men and women who give up their time to help others. Not only do they make sacrifices and enter tough situations, they are very well trained, skilled, prepared and organised. We are really proud to continue our support to Mountain Rescue Team and hope that there will remain a strong bond between both our Teams. Our thanks go to them for all they do in the area. Team members collecting outside Sainsbury s at Christmas. Robert Sunners, DGM Sainsbury s

7 THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS! Top row: Easter egg competition; Belfagan Dancers present cheque; Golf Club captain presents cheque to John Bulman. Middle row: Cheque presentation in lieu of Golden Wedding presents; Jim Fairey presents cheque following a lecture; Mr and Mrs Hiley present a cheque proceeds from their calendar. Bottom row: Mechanics Band present cheque following fundraising; Carol Magorrian at Wishes presents cheque following teddy raffle; Workington Ladies Guild.

8 Incidents January Requested by Wasdale MRT to check out Ennerdale valley for two walkers who had contacted the Police. They had walked from Wasdale and were uncertain of their location. They were located on a forest track by a Team member and escorted out of the valley March Two walkers lost in the Red Pike, Starling Dodd area. Some local Team members carried out an initial search; their car could not be found. The couple phoned later that night to confirm they were safely down January Team members called to assist Wasdale, with a casualty with shoulder and leg injuries, MIckledore, Scafell Pike. The casualty location was not exactly known and a search continued. A casualty was later found above Little Narrow Cove. Evacuation to Eskdale and ultimately from the scene by RAF helicopter March A female fell walker from Cumbria aged 62, fell close to Crummock Water sustaining an ankle injury. She was treated at scene and transported to an ambulance at Low Park January A woman from Scotland was reported in difficulty with an ankle injury in Gasgale Gill, Buttermere. She was escorted to Lanthwaite Green, and taken by her walking group to her accommodation. 29 March A couple from Cumbria became lost in the High Stile area whilst walking the ridge from Red Pike. Team members and search dogs undertook an extensive search of the area and located them a few hundred metres north of High Stile summit. Both were very cold but unhurt and were helped down to Gatesgarth. 18 January Team was called by the Police to assist with incident in Setmurthy Woods, nr. A female had fallen whilst running on an icy track, sustaining a suspected broken leg. The Team treated the casualty and transported her to an awaiting ambulance February The Team was called to assist Keswick MRT for a woman suffering from a panic attack near to Dale Head Tarn. The Team was recalled whilst on route to the incident April A 50-year-old woman from the Preston area fell on the path between Ard Crags and Sail sustaining an ankle injury. She was treated at the scene by a Team doctor and stretchered down to the road January The Team was called by the Police when an ambulance became stuck on ice at the top of a hill near Harrington harbour with a casualty on board. The casualty was transported safely down the hill in a Team Land Rover, transferred to another ambulance, and taken to West Cumberland Hospital January The Team was called at 12:30pm to assist Keswick MRT with a reported avalanche at Hind Crag (Glaramara), in Borrowdale. A party of three had been climbing a snow gully when they set off the avalanche. One male was swept down the slope with the avalanche February Two fellwakers from Leeds fell down a snow/ice slope whilst descending from Pillar. One of the party sustained head and shoulder injuries. The casualties were located in the dark by an RAF helicopter. With the help of the Team both were winched into the helicopter and taken to West Cumberland Hospital March Assist Keswick in Window Gully, Great End, Borrowdale. Report of someone being avalanched. Person was located and the Team recalled. Keswick, and Wasdale were called to the incident April A climber fell 10m on the first pitch of the climb Corvus on Raven Crag, Borrowdale. He sustained head, arm and shoulder injuries. The Team was called to assist Keswick MRT who had another call-out to attend to. The casualty was airlifted to hospital by helicopter from Leconfield. 1and luckily only sustained a knee injury. The other two members of the party managed to escape the avalanche and were escorted off the fell by members of Keswick Team. team was stood down at 2:30pm. Fifteen members from attended. 14 February The Team was requested by Wasdale MRT for assistance after a walker sustained head injuries in the Corridor Route area, Scafell. Six Team members assisted with the casualty evacuation. 3 March The Team was called to Mosedale, Loweswater, where a 55-year-old man had injured his knee. He was taken to the roadside near the Kirkstile Inn, by the Team February A woman from Cumbria in a party of three had fallen on the side of Buttermere Lake shore and was reported as being unconscious. She received head injuries. She was taken on a stretcher to Buttermere village and taken to hospital by ambulance April A 22-year-old woman from the Oxford area fell 80m whilst descending by Pillar Rock. She sustained head, spine and arm injuries. An air ambulance was used to transport the Team doctor and Team leader to just below the accident site, and other Team members followed up from the valley. A Navy helicopter from Gannet winched the casualty out of the gulley and flew her to West Cumberland Hospital.

9 19 21 April A sheep was rescued from a crag in the Haystacks area, Buttermere. Three Team members lowered the sheep to safe ground May Report of casualties hurt in lightning strike on Lad Hows, Grasmoor area. Team attended and a helicopter was sent to the scene. At the same time several calls received of other people struck by lightning - people on Wandope and Whiteless area. Keswick Team also June Two male walkers reported cragfast above Little Town, Newlands by a local farmer. The Team was called by Keswick MRT who were attending another incident. Team members lowered them from the crags and walked them down to the valley. Both were uninjured April The team was called following reports of a man who had collapsed near Blackbeck Tarn, Haystacks. The Team attended along with a helicopter from RN Gannet but unfortunately the casualty was dead on scene. 27 deployed to deal with the incident on Crag Hill. Four casualties taken to WCH hospital from incidents. Several other people escorted down from the fell to safety April Sheep Rescue - Green Crag, Warnscale, Buttermere three sheep rescued successfully from the crag June A party of three people became lost on what they thought was the top of Grasmoor. The party was located near the summit of Grasmoor and escorted down to Lanthwaite Green and taken on to Buttermere Youth Hostel in a Team vehicle May The team was called to a lady from Preston with a suspected broken leg in Warnscale, Buttermere on the descent from Fleetwith Pike She was evacuated from the hill by stretcher and taken to hospital May Report that a 47-year-old female had fallen on a path and had a badly injured ankle. She was located in the area above Blackbeck Tarn, above Green Crag, Haystacks. Ambulance requested and helimed 08 air ambulance was tasked to the scene. Casualty flown to West Cumberland hospital in Whitehaven. 10 June Team search dogs were called by Keswick MRT to assist in the search for a missing 72-year-old walker. He was believed to be walking from Seathwaite to Great Gable. He was sadly found dead by a passing walker near Sphinx Rock, Great Gable. 24 May Team was called by Keswick Team to assist with a serious bus crash on the A66. The Teams provided back up resources and stretchers and medical equipment in case required by the emergency services June A 74-year-old woman from Yorkshire fell on the path up Haystacks sustaining head injuries. The Great North Air Ambulance was able to land near the accident site, the May A sheep was rescued from Great Carrs by a Team member and assisted by Wasdale Team members whilst training in the area May Team received a report of a lady with an ankle injury on Hopegill Head. She was treated on scene by Team and Team Doctor for a suspected broken lower leg and possible pelvic injuries. Evacuated by Team to landing site, where she was taken by RN helicopter to Carlisle hospital. 2 June The team was called, along with other mountain rescue Teams, to search roadside areas in West Cumbria. Our area covered north of St.Bees and Egremont areas. This followed the major incident on the West Coast when 12 people were killed by a gunman. doctor and paramedic treated the casualty. Team members helped stretcher the casualty to the helicopter, and she was then flown to West Cumberland Hospital. 17 May Team received a report of a male injured in a hang glider accident near Hope Farm, Hopebeck, Lorton valley. The casualty was attended to by paramedics and Team members. He was stretchered to an air ambulance and taken to Carlisle hospital June Further searches recommenced from 0500 hrs of roadsides and lanes in the Frizington, Rowrah, Kirkland areas, following yesterday's local incident in West Cumbria. The Team was stood down at 08:10 hrs. Nothing found June A party of four 16 and 17-year-olds from the Darlington area, were scrambling near Eagle crag, Buttermere. One fell about 60 feet sustaining head, and other injuries. One party member became cragfast. The Team was called out and an RAF helicopter and air June Report of a female casualty with a broken ankle between Coledale Hause and Sand Hill. She was evacuated from the scene by RN Gannett helicopter and flown to West Cumberland Hospital. 22 May Team received report of walker who had fallen on the summit of Pillar sustaining injuries to his face Casualty was met by Team members and escorted down to Black Sail YH where he was transferred by Team vehicle to WCH. ambulance tasked to the scene. Resuscitation commenced and continued during transfer by RAF helicopter to WCH where the casualty was pronounced dead. The remaining cragfast casualty was lowered from the crag by the Team and walked down to Buttermere June A 60-year-old Coast to Coast walker from Essex fell near Black Sail Youth Hostel sustaining a fractured wrist and minor facial injuries. She was treated at the hostel by Team members and transported in a Team vehicle to West Cumberland Hospital.

10 39 27 June A 20-year-old walker from Manchester fell near Beck Head sustaining a serious head injury. A paramedic from an air ambulance attended to the casualty, followed by Team members. She was then winched from the fell by an RAF helicopter from Valley, Wales and flown to Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle July A couple from Cheshire became disorientated in low mist whilst waking from Dale Head to Robinson. After talking by phone to the casualty their position was established and they were advised to stay in their present location until Team members got to them. Both casualties were safely escorted of the hill by Team members June A 38-year-old female was reported to have a broken ankle between Scarth Gap and Haystacks. She was located by the Team and stretchered down to Gatesgarth. She was transferred to an ambulance and taken to West Cumberland Hospital July The Team was requested to assist in the search for a missing 13- year-old boy. The boy was found in Stonethwaite by Keswick MRT. 27 July A female walker was reported to be suffering from an anaphylactic shock in the Ard Crags area, Newlands. The casualty was airlifted from the scene by air ambulance and taken to Carlisle hospital. 18 July Requested by Police to resume the search of the river and banks of the Ehen for a missing male. An extensive search was carried out by Team members. Nothing was found July Requested by Police to search the river banks of the Ehen for a missing male aged 54 years; starting from Egremont to Seascale. Nothing was found July A 55-year-old woman from Dumfries sustained a fractured arm when she fell whilst crossing a stile near Scarth Gap. She had made her way down to Buttermere with her walking group just before the Team arrived July 72-year-old male and 10-year-old boy failed to turn up at Gillerthwaite YH having left Wasdale YH at 08:30 this morning. The 10-year-old was found by Team members on a forest track in Ennerdale. He had left his grandfather to get help after he suffered a fall and was unable to walk. The 72-year-old was found by a search dog near the summit of Haycock. He was stretchered down to below the cloud line and transferred to West Cumberland Hospital by Royal Navy helicopter July A 45-year-old male fell and dislocated his shoulder whilst descending from Red Pike. The NW Air Ambulance flew the casualty to hospital. 2 July Called by Wasdale Team at 8:20pm to assist search for missing 72-year-old male who had become separated from son and grandson on Great Gable. Gentleman found by Wasdale Team descending into Wasdale Head at 9:20pm safe and well July Team called by Keswick MRT to assist with ankle injury in the Wythburn Valley, whilst Keswick MRT attended another call-out. The D of E casualty was carried from the scene by stretcher. 19 July A group of five female walkers from Cheshire were unable to cross a swollen beck in Ennerdale and became trapped in torrential rain and rising water levels. The Team used swift water rescue equipment to bring them safely across the swollen Loft beck. They were escorted to Black Sail youth hostel to safety July The Team was called to a casualty with an anaphylactic reaction to a bee/wasp sting on the Buttermere Lake shore path. The casualty had recovered and made their way back to Gatesgarth as the Team arrived. 4 July Report of a D of E party of seven 17/18-year-olds overdue from Coledale Hause area. Two returned safely, had separated from the other group of five. The group of five were eventually located near Crag Hill. They were escorted from the fell towards Coledale Beck and Braithwaite to a waiting vehicle. 20 July Team responded to an incident with a lady who had broken her ankle near Ling Crag, Crummock Lake shore path. She was stretchered to High Park, near the Kirkstile and taken by private transport to Carlisle infirmary July Lady fallen and sustained leg injury near Innominate Tarn, Haystacks four in Party. The casualty was carried by stretcher to an air ambulance further down the fell and flown to West Cumberland Hospital. 21 July A 33-year-old woman from Cumbria fractured her ankle whilst walking on Binsey. She was treated at the scene and evacuated to an ambulance at Binsey Cottage. 1 August A 56-year-old fellwalker collapsed with a suspected heart attack on Scarth Gap footpath, Buttermere. He was treated by the crew of the Great North Air Ambulance and stretchered a short distance by rescue Team to the helicopter and flown to Middlesbrough Hospital August Two sheep became stuck on High Crag, Buttermere. They were rescued by four Team members. 16 August A 60-year-old casualty was reported as collapsed on the summit of Red Pike (Buttermere), possibly from dehydration. The Team responded and a Great North Air Ambulance (GNAA) airlifted the casualty to West Cumberland Hospital.

11 60 19 August Report of a female with a knee injury near Black Sail, Ennerdale. She was located by the Team at the Youth Hostel and then taken by the Team transport back to October A 45-year-old fellwalker slipped and fell on the descent from Haycock into Ennerdale sustaining a fractured ankle. He was splinted at the scene by Team members and stretchered down to an ambulance in Ennerdale. He was then transported to West Cumberland Hospital December Search for missing person in Whinlatter area resumed with, Keswick, search dogs, Kirkby Stephen and Teesdale rescue Teams. Nothing was found August Report of a 19 year old female with an injured knee near Bleaberry Tarn, Red Pike. An air ambulance was tasked to the scene. The Team carried the casualty to the helicopter that took the casualty to the valley for onward transfer by road to hospital October A fellwalker became lost in the Haystacks area in darkness with no torch. A search of the Buttermere and Ennerdale valleys was launched and he was located below Scarth Gap in Ennerdale. Team members brought him safely down to the valley and transported him back to his car at Buttermere December The Team was called by the Police to search for a missing person in the Whinlatter area with Keswick MRT and search dogs. An RAF helicopter assisted after dark with the search but nothing was found October A 75-year old-woman from the Manchester area fell whilst walking near Black Beck Tarn sustaining a serious eye/head injury, a fractured wrist and thumb. The casualty 9 November Report of a lady from the Whitehaven area with a fractured ankle near Sale Fell. She was located on a forest track descending from Sale Fell. She was taken to the roadside by stretcher near the Pheasant Inn and taken by road ambulance to hospital. Keswick MRT also assisted. An air ambulance sent to the scene was not required August Sheep stuck on ledge on High Crag. The sheep was successfully rescued from the ledge by three Team members. was treated at the scene by Team members and airlifted to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle by a helicopter from RAF Valley, North Wales November A 91-year-old male and 70-yearold female fellwalker from Cumbria became stuck in darkness on a path in Warnscale. They managed to get to Gatesgarth, Buttermere as the team was driving to the incident. Both were safe and well. 9 October A walker fell unconscious whilst descending Gamlin End, High Crag, Buttermere. He had started to walk down with another group as the Team came up to meet him from Gatesgarth. An air ambulance was also called and then stood down December 60-year-old walker lost on Blencathra in cloud. An extensive search of the area was undertaken by MRT, Keswick MRT, Penrith MRT and search dogs. He was located high up to the north west of Blencathra summit, and escorted back down the mountain. 21 August Team called to assist three people reported stuck and in difficulties in a waterfall in Warnscale area, near Green Crag. They were located by Team members and all three were brought down to safe ground. 7 December The Team was asked to provide transport on snow covered roads for a care worker to a patient in High Lorton. A patient was transferred to Holmewood care home in. 29 December Search for missing person in Whinlatter area continued with Keswick MRT and search dogs. Nothing found. 1 September A 61-year-old male walker from Cumbria slipped on the Ennerdale Lake shore path sustaining knee and back injuries. He was stretchered to an ambulance at Bowness car park and taken to West Cumberland Hospital September Keswick MRT requested the Team to assist with an incident near Sty Head. A helicopter managed to evacuate the casualty and the Team was stood down October The team was called to assist the ambulance service with a female with an ankle injury in the Setmurthy woods area, near. She was met by Team members and she was taken to hospital by ambulance November A 48-year-old walker from Wetherby became detached from his walking group in the Grey Knotts area. He ended up tired out at the bottom of Loft Beck, Ennerdale. A warden from Black Sail Youth Hostel helped him back to the hostel from where he was taken back to by the Team November Called by the Police to help a party of 19 people from Gillerthwaite Youth hostel Ennerdale, stranded in snow and icy conditions. Three Team vehicles transported the people to Whitehaven to catch trains to Carlisle and then on to Newcastle. They had to leave their cars and bags at the hostel for collection when the snows have receded. 31 December Requested by the Police to continue the search for missing female in Whinlatter area, along with other Lakes MRT Teams and search dogs. The team was gratefully assisted by members from Kirkby Stephen, Patterdale, Penrith, Keswick and Wasdale Teams. 60 persons involved and six Search Dogs.

12 We haven t forgotten the bravery and dedication so many of you showed. Wow! What stars you all are. We would like to say a massive thank-you. You are all worth your weight in gold. From the point that the Police contacted you all immediate worries were taken away from us and we just had to sit back and wait while you looked after everything. The Team was great and it was comforting to know that we were being well taken care of. I enjoyed the humorous banter between the guys that was interspersed with the more serious matter of assessing the situation and communicating with people. Without your help I do not know what my son would have done and the respect my husband had for all the rescue workers was immense. We were enormously impressed by your speed, your efficiency, your thoroughness, your calm reassurance and friendliness. Thank you doesn t seem enough when expressing my gratitude. The dedication and professionalism that your Team displayed was second to none and I will always be in your debt. It restores one s faith in human nature to know that people such as you are willing to provide such a skilled and essential service on a voluntary basis. I really appreciated all those who took time out to help me even the eight who carried the stretcher am I really that heavy? (That s one stone each!) We will be forever grateful the work that you do is truly amazing.

13 Lingerie, nightwear, beachwear and hosiery Menswear too! Gift vouchers available 33 Market Place,, Cumbria CA13 9NF

14 Mountain Rescue Teams provide their services year round, in all weather conditions. Throughout the year the Team's training programme develops and refreshes members' skills. Unfortunately the transition from summer to winter arrives suddenly and unpredictably in the UK and following the arrival of the first frosts and snows there is rarely chance to get out with axes and crampons before the first winter call-outs occur. In October 2010, MRT sent Dr Jo Grove and Simon Woodbury along to Keswick MRT's winter training weekend in Chamonix. This event provides four days of winter skills training under the supervision of UIAGM Mountain Guides, many of whom have been MRT members during their time in the UK. The French Alps are relatively quiet at this time of year yet provide reliable snow conditions. The network of lifts enables quick access to the snow and the high altitude environment enables Team Members to stretch their personal skills beyond conditions encountered at home. Following a full day of travelling a cool beer was provided on arrival. A good start, immediately complemented by a hearty meal. Next morning, the Guides joined us straight after breakfast and took us halfway up the Midi cable-car to refresh axe and crampon skills and impart a few tricks for moving around on steep mixed ground. Our weather expectations were soon met, with wintry showers reminiscent of the Lake District arriving on the first afternoon. The second day saw us at the top of the Midi, breaking trail through waistdeep powder down the exit ridge and honing our avalanche and transceiver searching skills. The third day provided the personal skills highlight of the trip, with a supervised trip along the Cosmiques Arete in glorious weather. The only teams moving faster than us that day were the local Mountain Rescue Team, which forms part of the local Chamonix Police service, and two super-fast mountaineers from California. Day four was a free choice day and after three days at altitude most of us were ready to explore the delights of the Guides' Crag for some rock climbing in big boots. After a quick trip round the shops of Chamonix we packed up and travelled home, arriving in the small hours of the next morning. Overall it was a good opportunity to brush up on winter skills in a fantastic setting. The banter and teamwork were every bit as good as we have come to expect from our eastern neighbours. And plenty of food for thought was provided on how we might better prepare for that first winter call-out. Thanks to Keswick MRT for letting us join in and to our families for once again letting us redefine a long weekend. Simon Woodbury Winter training in Chamonix Approaching Aiguille du Midi.

15 The Fish Inn SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM Family-Run Hotel Buttermere Cumbria Tel: Discover Quince & Medlar Restaurant Fine vegetarian dining GOODFELLOW TYRES Fairfield Car Park Tel: Greta Side, Southey Lane Industrial Estate, Keswick Tel: Open Tuesday to Saturday evenings Please call to reserve your table 13 Castlegate, Open seven days a week for Indian cuisine at its best Main Street,, Cumbria CA13 9LE THE SPICE CLUB Dining Club For lovers of our fine Indian Cuisine we are repaying our regular customers with the opportunity to join our privilege Dining Club. Members will be invited to special events, promotions and tastings with discounted prices during the year. All you have to do is your name to: spice.club@btinternet.com or fill in our details below and hand it in at the restaurant. Go on, join the club. Name Mobile Tel No... We guarantee not to send you lots of junk mail, just an occasional newsletter with special offers and events for you and your guests to enjoy amazing food at amazing prices. We also want you to be assured we would never share your information with any other party

16 Ice rescue on Bassenthwaite Lake. Swift water practice on the Cocker. Trying out our new boat on Crummock. Post-flood development of our In October 2007, having just finished my probationary year with Mountain Rescue Team (CMRT), I was one of a group of ten team members given the opportunity to complete the Swiftwater Rescue Technicians (SRT) course. The course, run by Rescue 3 UK, took place over three days and covered the theory and practicalities of carrying out rescues in moving water environments. CMRT had only relatively recently been asked to involve themselves in water rescue incidents. However, in addition to being climbers, most Team members have also spent a considerable amount of time kayaking or canoeing and as a result have a good understanding of the difficulties and dangers involved with operating in water. Other organisations like the Fire and Rescue Service and the RNLI also put their personnel through this course and as a result the kinds of scenarios encountered on the course cover both river and urban flood rescue. As a mountain rescue team we were of the opinion that whilst we would be willing and able to work in an urban flood environment if required to, the most likely situation that we would be dealing with would involve carrying out rescues in remotely located rivers and becks with access problems. A few weeks after completing the course the Team had its AGM. It was at this meeting that Mike, the Team Leader, put me forward for the post of SRT Equipment Quartermaster. I excitedly accepted this new responsibility only to be told by Mike that my first duty was to repair a damaged drysuit (a waterproof boiler suit with rubber feet in it and neck and wrist seals so tight that they not only stop the water getting in but also do an excellent job of cutting off the supply of blood to your extremities). The Team has quite a few quartermasters with responsibilities for different things like equipment, vehicles and even the upkeep of the base itself. When I compared my area of responsibility with some of these other quartermasters my little empire could have be considered to be a bit of a joke. At the time the Swiftwater Rescue capability sum total of the Team s swiftwater rescue equipment consisted of three drysuits, seven PFDs (Personal Flotation Devices or buoyancy aids), and an assortment of throw lines (floating ropes in bags that can be thrown out to people in need of assistance). The Team constantly reviews the effectiveness of its equipment, rescue strategies, casualty care techniques and training. This process highlights areas that need to be developed or adapted so that we can continue to provide the high level of service that people have come to expect from us. Through this process the Team had identified a need to purchase more swiftwater rescue equipment. However, doing this would be an expensive process, particularly when the infrequency of its use is taken into account when compared to other vital equipment like stretchers, ropes and first aid. Therefore, it was agreed that improvements would have to be made gradually over a period of two or three years. I was at work on the morning of 19th November 2009, when the call-out came to assist with the evacuation of residents from houses on Waterloo Street. Upon arriving at the Team base Mike asked me to get into one of the Team s three drysuits and to get one ready for him and one for Andrew Graham. The rest of the Team s buoyancy aids and throw lines were rapidly distributed to Team members as they arrived. Very quickly the Team s limited amount of equipment ran out, fortunately, most Team members, realising the scale of the disaster that was unfolding came to the base with an assortment of their own water sports gear. It was only with the use of this mixture of Team and personal gear that we could effectively equip Team members so that they could be safely deployed into flooded areas of the town. Over the next few days the Team s swiftwater rescue equipment was in constant use. Often being stripped from one exhausted Team member and passed directly onto a fresh volunteer before they headed out into the water. At the end of day four the volume of s

17 work being done by the Team had reduced enough to allow a shift pattern to be established. This meant that most of the Team could go home and catch up on some sleep whilst a small group remained at the base to deal with any further requests for assistance. However, as with all call-outs, regardless of length, the last job to do is to make sure that the kit has been cleaned, dried and put away in the correct place so that it s all ready for the next job. It was during this final phase that we began to realise just how hard the last few days had been on the equipment. All three of the drysuits had been ripped and much of the other equipment had been so badly worn or contaminated that it was now no longer safe to use. It soon became apparent that the cost of replacing all of the equipment that had been damaged or lost was going to run into the thousands. The Police had already made it clear that they would be able to help with some of this but we were still going to struggle to afford to replace it all. Fortunately, by this point we had already started to receive an unprecedented number of donations. Most of these came from individuals and groups based in, however, due to the media coverage, many people from outside of Cumbria also sent generous donations. These s ranged in size from a few pence to many thousands of pounds, but, regardless of the amount, every penny of support was very gratefully received. Many of those who made donations requested that the money be specifically spent on equipment and training related to water rescue. After a few days it became clear that the amount of money being donated to the Team would not only enable us to replace the equipment that had been lost, but would also allow us to make all of those improvements that previously would have taken years to achieve. Thanks to all of this support, CMRT has been able to train a further 18 Swiftwater Rescue Technicians and now has enough equipment to put up to 15 fully-equipped SRTs into the water and provide PFDs and throw lines so that other Team members can carry out important bank-side safety and rescue roles. As well as this we have also purchased a state-of-the-art rescue raft that is adaptable enough to be used in rivers, on flooded streets or even to rescue people who have fallen through the ice on frozen lakes. Ultimately, these donations have allowed us to become one of the best-equipped and best-trained swiftwater rescue teams in the UK. Martin Pickavance is open for business! Last year in our report there were many photographs of the floods and devastation in. However, things have changed dramatically with the majority of businesses reopened in brighter, more attractive, revamped premises. The town has a wide variety of individual shops with character that aren t found elsewhere and it is well worth a visit. After shopping there are plenty of lovely cafés with food to tempt. Come and see for yourself! November 2009 March 2011

18 Pullout to order Help support us by buying some of our Team merchandise is open for business! Pictures in circles courtesy of Chris Freer: freerimages.co.uk Fleeces each plus 1.60 p&p each item Please state second choice colour Colour/Size S(40) M(44) L(47) XL(50) Quantity Black Sky Blue Bottle Green Royal Blue Navy Red Burgundy Mid-grey Orange NEW Keyrings 1.00 each Quantity: Please fill out a Bankers Order and Gift Aid form to help us continue our work > > >

19 T-shirts 7.00 each plus 1.00 p&p each item Please state second choice colour Colour/Size S(40) M(44) L(47) XL(50) Quantity Black Sky Blue Bottle Green Royal Blue Navy Red Burgundy Mid-grey Orange Sweatshirts each plus 1.60 p&p each item Please state second choice colour Colour/Size S(40) M(44) L(47) XL(50) Quantity Black Sky Blue Bottle Green Royal Blue Navy Red Burgundy Mid-grey Orange Baseball caps 7.00 each plus 1 p&p each item Quantity Red Navy NEW Car stickers 1.00 each post free Quantity: Woolly hats 7.00 each plus 1.00 p&p each item Please state second choice colour Colour/Size S(40) M(44) L(47) XL(50) Quantity Black Sky Blue Bottle Green Royal Blue Navy Red Burgundy Mid-grey Orange Other merchandise Item Price P+P Quantity CMRT Mugs china TT Pads CMRT Pin Badges p ½ Size Crayons p Small Soft Toys p CMRT Pencils 50p 46p Pens 1.00/7 for 5 46p Xmas cards pack of 5 for 4 post free 6 packs for 20 post free Name Address Phone Total Donation Total enclosed Please make cheques payable to Mountain Rescue Team and send with this pullout form to: C. Abbot, High Leys, Rowrah, Frizington, Cumbria CA26 3XD Please fill out a Bankers Order and Gift Aid form to help us continue our work >>>

20 Mountain Rescue Team Gift Aid Declaration Form Charity Reg No: As a charity Mountain Rescue Team can reclaim the tax on any donation you make (providing you are a UK tax payer) and increases its value by nearly a third without costing you a penny. It is one of the most effective ways to help the Mountain Rescue Team members even more, and enable them to continue their rescues. I would like Mountain Rescue Team to reclaim the tax on all donations that I have made since 6th April 2000 and may make in the future. Mr/Mrs/Ms Full Name Address Post Code Signature Date / / Please note: I should tell Mountain Rescue Team if I do not pay an amount of tax that at least equals the tax deducted from my donations and also if I change my name or address. Can you help the Mountain Rescue Team by giving a regular amount each month or year to help continue their work? If so, please fill in this form: Bankers Order Date To Bank Address Post Code Name of Account to be debited Account No is open for business! Please pay to: National Westminster Bank, 23 Station Street,, Cumbria Code No , for credit of CMRT, Account No The sum of in words: Commencing (Date of first payment) And thereafter every (Month/Year) Until (Date of last payment or until further notice) and debit my/our account accordingly Signed Date Please complete and return this form to: Mountain Rescue Team (TR) PO Box 73,, Cumbria CA13 3AE

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22 Here are two viewpoints of incident number 53 in July 2010, the first by the mother of 10-year-old Ben and the second (on the next double pages) by our very own Andrew McNeil Ben and Howard s great adventure On Friday 23rd July, Ben and Howard set off on the 7.39am train for their great adventure. After five trains, including the small steam train from Ravenglass to Boot, they set off to walk to Wastwater Youth Hostel. Ben was excited when they reached the tops and could look down on Wasdale, the lake surrounded by mountains. They could even see the hostel, a lovely old mansion with lawns down to the water. Everyone at the hostel was very friendly; Ben liked the meals and it was a good night. Next morning they set off at 8.30am, without their packed lunch, but enjoying the good weather. Ben was skipping and singing as they skirted the lake. It doesn t get better than this, said Howard. They climbed up to near Haycock and although the path was not well walked, with their map, they found the way. Howard pointed out where they were on the map all the way up to the saddle between Haycock and Red Pike. He and Ben looked down into Ennerdale as they ate nuts, apricots and a Mars Bar. They could see the hostel nearly two thousand feet below them. They had the feeling that they were over the major part. Then the mist came down and the wind and rain started, slashing horizontal rain. They searched for a path with several false starts, climbing back up again in case they had missed it. Howard fell into a deep hole of mud and was wet and very cold. The hours went by and he couldn t walk properly. He and Ben were both in tears and Howard must have passed out at some stage. Ben kept talking to him, saying that they would be alright. They tried the mobile phone, but it was soaked and useless. Eventually Ben set off to look for help. He tried to do what they had attempted, to follow the river down. Again there were many false starts, retracing the path and trying again. By now he was in the forest and although he found a track and a route sign, the path divided and neither way seemed to lead anywhere. About p.m. he sat down under a tree to rest and must have fallen asleep. Sometime around midnight he was woken by the sound of two Mountain Rescue Team members walking along the track, lights on their helmets, obviously searching. Ben called out to them and when he told them who he was, they said that it was him that they were looking for. Ben described where he had left his grandfather and was able to give the map square. Then they took him to the Rescue Landrover where they gave him warm clothes and energy bars. One member stayed with him and told him about the Rescue Team and how they had already been out that night with the search dogs on another call-out. Some of them had just been getting into bed when the second call came. In London, we had been contacted by Ennerdale Youth Hostel, asking if Ben and Howard still wanted their supper as they hadn t turned up. We thought that they might have gone to another hostel, but when the local ones were contacted the only definite fact was that they had set out from Wasdale that morning at After a while they rang the Mountain Rescue, but could only leave a message as the Team was already out, however we did get contact later and spoke to Mike Park the Team Leader. We gave him all the details. Howard cannot remember how the hours vanished as he worried about Ben and huddled next to a rock in the driving rain. Suddenly he was aware of search lights and realized that someone was looking for them. Thanks to Ben s clear instructions, he was found reasonably quickly. You should be very proud of your grandson. He has courage and persistence plus a lot of common sense. Now, how are you? Howard had fortunately not broken any limbs. He was put into dry clothes, into a bag on a stretcher and carried down a thousand feet to below the cloud line. A helicopter arrived and someone came down on the rope to check that Howard was OK to be winched up to where there were several medical people including a GP and a physiotherapist, both Team members. They flew to West Cumberland Hospital where an ambulance was waiting by the helicopter pad to take Howard to A & E. He spent a couple of hours in a balloon into which hot air was pumped, to raise his temperature and then his temperature was checked regularly and he had blood tests and an ECG. Meanwhile there was talk about what to do with Ben; no good going back to the youth hostel, better that he go to the hospital to be with his grandfather. He was put in the children s ward where he had a hot bath; with so many bubbles he couldn t see his body. The children s ward was unusually empty so he was cosseted with ample supplies of videos and nourishment by charming nurses. About midnight, the Police rang us with the good news that Ben was safe and well. There were no details as to where or how he had been found, just the message and that they would ring again when there was any word about Howard. At 3 a.m. we heard that news and then we were called again at 6.30 to say that they were both in West Cumberland Hospital. Just before 9am I was on the point of ringing the hospital when the nurse in charge of Honister Ward rang us and I asked if I could speak to Ben. He gave a blow-by-blow account, the wonderful start to the day, reaching the top, attempting to find the path, Grandad falling into deep mud, up to his waist and trying to walk. Ben taking both rucksacks, Grandad trying to crawl, Ben going alone, more false attempts, and eventually in the forest falling asleep and being woken by the rescuers so on and so on. His account was extremely lucid though punctuated by a few tears until he got to the helicopter and rescue dog adventure. He was fine now. Certainly when I got to the hospital about 5pm there was Ben looking very cheerful and smart in a white t-shirt and long black silky trousers. Thanks to the advice of a nurse Ben and I had supper in The Distressed Sailor and slept in a friendly B&B. Next morning we walked to the hospital, got Howard discharged, went to Penrith by taxi and, after a MacDonalds, caught the train to Euston that Ben and Howard had intended to catch in any case! Ben s mum s

23 Incident 53 Ennerdale Valley, 24th July 2010 The Team was called by the police at around 11.30pm on Saturday 24th July. The information we were given was that a 72-yearold male, Howard, and his 10-year-old grandson, Ben, were on a multi day hike across the western fells. On the second morning of their walk they had left the youth hostel at Wasdale aiming to cross the tops and end up at Gillerthwaite Youth Hostel in Ennerdale. Their exact chosen route was unknown. They d also left their packed lunches for the day behind by accident. The call had come from the young boy s mother who was at home in London who was worried as she had phoned and discovered they were now well overdue. The weather was typical for the time of year wet, miserable, not particularly cold, but it had become very foggy in the late afternoon and the fog had remained into the night. While we waited for the rest of the Team to turn up at the base, Chris and I discussed possible routes the pair might have taken and put together some search paths. To get to Gillerthwaite Youth Hostel they would have had to cross the ridge which forms the boundary between our Teams area and Wasdale MRT s area. This runs from Kirk Fell to Haycock and beyond. There are numerous established routes across the ridge, and we decided to put Teams of two up each of the footpaths as a starting point to the search. At this stage I also contacted the call-out coordinator from the Search and Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA) and asked for search dogs to attend the incident. SARDA Lakes is made up of Team members from across the Lakes MRTs who, as well as their membership of their respective Team, also train a search dog. The dogs and handlers can be paged to attend incidents throughout Cumbria and often beyond. I am a member of SARDA and my dog, Corrie (pictured), has been on the call out list for about seven years. The team was briefed on the incident and we got two land rovers away to Ennerdale where Team members split into pairs and started out on their respective search routes. I was in the second land rover with my dog and as we approached Ennerdale, we got a message on the radio that the first pair, who had begun searching, had located Ben, the grandson! Literally, five minutes from the vehicle, sheltering, in the dark, under a tree on the edge of the forest track! Our vehicle arrived at the scene and one of the Team doctors, who had found the boy (well rather had been found by the boy he shouted to them as they passed!), was talking to him, trying to get information that could help us locate his grandfather. The young lad was cold, wet, but was full of spirit, and was eager to help. He told us he had left his grandfather higher up the fell, well above the forest. He had fallen, was exhausted and was unable to continue. Ben had then set off for help, heading downhill towards Ennerdale and hopefully, the youth hostel. He d done incredibly well and got to the valley floor as night fell, but, without a torch, he had decided to shelter under the trees, where he had fallen asleep. With the new information from Ben, we decided to alter our plans. We decided to concentrate our search to the area of fellside above the forest track, where Ben had been found, using Low Beck to the east of Tewit How ridge as our eastern boundary and Silvercove Beck as our western boundary. We would search from the forest boundary up to the ridgeline. The conditions weren t good for searching, with drizzle and fog coming in, as we got above the trees. I set off with the dog, slightly ahead of the Team, up through the centre of the search area. I heard, on the radio, the rest of the Team organising themselves into a line search across the area behind us, and Ben s details being passed back to our control room, from where his mother was told that he d been found safe and well. There was a good breeze, which strengthened with height, and Corrie zigzagged back and forth in front of me. Notwithstanding the time of night, or the weather, this is FUN (for her that is). A faint voice carried on the wind, out of the fog. Stop,listen, shine torch, send the dog in the direction it came from sheep. Carry on. On the radio, I could hear more Team members and dog handlers join the search, being tasked with routes and areas to cover as they arrived, some from as far a field as Kirby Stephen. After about an hour and a half, I reached the basin below Little Gowder Crag, and started to pick a way up through the left hand end of the crags towards the summit of Haycock. I decided that on reaching the ridge I would turn left and follow it along for a while towards Scoat Fell. The dog had different ideas however and turned right as we topped out above the crag. The wind was lifting from the basin below, and she pottered about with her nose in the air for a bit, before taking off with a bit more purpose, along the top of the crag then disappearing back down into steep ground. I followed her if this is another sheep I scrambled down and she appeared coming back up towards me looked at me then disappeared into the mist again. Hardly an indication, I thought but followed her down. Then I did hear a bark, then another. The casualty, Howard, was sitting hunched on wet grass towards the top of the basin below Little Gowder Crag. We must have passed within 100yds of him on our way up, but with the fog, and wind lifting, hadn t seen, heard (or scented) him. After a brief introduction, and an initial assessment, I radioed in, giving details of location and the casualty s condition. He was exhausted, very weak and confused, showing signs of hypothermia. With some dry clothes on and a tent sack over us, he had a hot drink from my flask and wolfed some crisps and energy bars. I set up a flashing strobe to help the Team find us, which was still not easy, due to the conditions! The first Team members and a Team doctor arrived, and while he further assessed and treated Howard, we made plans for evacuation. As the fog was starting to lift, and because of the casualty s hypothermic state, we requested an RAF Sea King to attend. Waiting for confirmation of this from our base, we started to stretcher evacuate the casualty, down the Tewit How path. Dawn had broken and we were well down the mountain, when we saw the Sea King approaching. The helicopter couldn t land anywhere nearby, so we prepared the casualty and stretcher for a winch. Within fifteen minutes the casualty was airborne and on route to West Cumberland Hospital. We heard later that Howard had still been significantly hypothermic on arrival at West Cumberland Hospital, with a very low body core temperature. (Point to remember this was July!) He did make a full recovery, and was reunited with Ben and his mother, the following morning. Andrew McNeil

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25 If Carlsberg did call outs they would probably be like this. It was April, and for yet another year we were enjoying an extended spell of dry settled weather in the spring. The day started at 8am with our new guilty pleasure a road bike trip over Newlands Pass and back over Whinlatter with my mates Andrew and Steve. There were two highlights on the trip; Hitting 43 mph coming off Newlands Hawse and then stopping for a coffee at Siskin s café. Back at home after lunch a nice wee nap. I was just waking up, stretching and wondering what I should do for the rest of the day when a call-out text arrived. Climber injured in fall Pillar Rock. Pillar Rock is always a serious expedition so my pulse was already racing as I ran to get my gear. The phone rang. It was Mike, our Team Leader. Mark, can you attend? This sounds serious, can you go direct? Yes Mike. I m on my way. What s happened? A girl has fallen in West Waterfall Gully. This is a notorious area for climbers falling as they return to the foot of Pillar rock and cross wet slabs. As it turned out the couple weren t climbers, but walkers taking a direct but serious way off Pillar. I fixed my green light to the roof of my car and sped off. I stopped briefly to talk to Mike at Croasdale where he had paused for his wife to meet him and pick up his girls, who were in the back of his car, and then I dropped into Ennerdale. As I drove up the forest tracks I raised a great plume of dust more reminiscent of Africa in the dry season than the Lake District. I heard Mike talking to the Air Ambulance and saw it heading up the opposite side of the valley on a parallel course. We were flying in rescue formation! As I arrived at the foot of Pillar rock, Mike was trying to get the Air Ambulance to pick us up but they flew direct to the casualty and we set off to climb to the scene. After we had gone only 50 yards the helicopter radioed to tell us that they were coming back down to pick us up as they couldn t land near the casualty. Fantastic, I thought! Shoulder to shoulder, with our helmets and rucksacks on, we ran down to the crossroads, where the helicopter was landing. Hollywood would have filmed this in slow motion! I certainly had the Chariots of Fire theme playing in my head! We were waved into the back and put on the headphones so we could talk to the pilot. As we took off he told us that he would fly over the victim to show us where she was and then drop us off as close as possible. Just drop us off on that ridge, Mike said. Oh I can get you closer than that, said the pilot, but I ll only be able to put one skid down on the slope as it s too steep so you ll have to jump out. Crouch down and keep your head low as we peel off. This was music to my ears. I was in heaven! As we flew into the confines of the cove, the immensity of Pillar rock loomed over us and the pilot said, Right, we re committed s

26 now. If it goes wrong we re in the sh..! By which he meant there was no escape route if an engine failed and we would crash and burn. For some reason I just felt exhilarated! As we flew over the young woman, the helicopter tipped to improve our view and we could see her in the gully being supported by her loyal friend. We came around again and we could hear the pilot struggling to bring the helicopter down but the slope was indeed too steep and he eventually admitted defeat and said these immortal words, for which I will be eternally grateful. It s no use, I can t put her down. You ll have to jump! It s about six feet. Without hesitation I opened the door and climbed out onto the skid. I was pleased to see it was actually only two or three feet and so I stepped out onto the hillside and huddled down. Mike spoke to the crew as he jumped out, saying thanks, but that they should clear off quickly as there was a proper helicopter coming. (We had called for a Sea King and its winch would make our casualty s rescue from the gully s recesses much quicker). Sadly his dramatic exit was slightly spoiled as he forgot to remove his earphones, and they pinged back into the craft as he jumped! s As I lay on the hillside I remember looking at the skid as it bobbed up and down threatening to crush my foot, which I hurriedly pulled back. The helicopter then banked away and I must admit to being somewhat awestruck, so Mike, who has seen it all before, got a head start up the gully. We were about 50 feet below the girl and we scrambled up the rock face like geckos, quickly reaching her and the young man who was with her. We were horrified to look up and see how far she had fallen and tumbled, about 80 metres we reckoned. Usually, when falling this distance, casualties have head, spinal and rib injuries but amazingly she was fully conscious! She was calm and not shocked. We treated her injuries as the speedier members of our Team began arriving. So had the Sea King and the winch man landed a few feet below us in the gully, with their stretcher and vacuum mattress. We quickly packaged her up ready for her flight to West Cumberland Hospital. The winch man then asked for a doctor to go in the helicopter with the girl and as far as I could see there was only one man for the job on the hill that day! The day was going so well I even remembered to hand my car keys over to Paul as I prepared myself to be winched into my second helicopter of the day! As I spiralled up in the strop I coolly waved to my less fortunate friends who would have to walk down! The flight was a short blur of noise, kerosene fumes, tilting views of Ennerdale water and oxygen masks, and in no time at all we arrived at hospital. There was a short ambulance journey around the hospital to Accident and Emergency where I handed over to the doctors and nurses. I then enjoyed a lovely cup of tea made for me by a very kind nurse. Paul arrived soon after with my car and we drove back to base to tell the tale which, as you can imagine, I did (and still do) with great relish. And do you know the best part of this callout? It s that the young lady, despite her horrendous fall, hadn t broken her spine or suffered a brain injury and was going to make a full recovery. She was one lucky lady and I was one lucky and privileged mountain rescuer! Mark Steel We are delighted to support the work of the Mountain Rescue Team. Keep up the great work! 10p from the sale of every pint of Thirst Rescue we sell goes to Mountain Rescue We serve excellent real ales, a wide range of wines, tapas, hot beverages and soft drinks. Open every day: Sunday to Thursday: 3pm-11pm Friday and Saturday: 3pm-11.30pm Come along and enjoy a fantastic home-from-home atmosphere. 1 Market Place,, Cumbria CA13 9BZ

27 On 27th June 2010, I sustained a serious head injury, falling headfirst onto rocks while walking near Brim Crags at the base of Haystacks, one of the most remote and beautiful areas in the Lake District (see incident 39!). The first thing I remember was blood spurting uncontrollably through my fingers when I held my head. I looked at the ground to see it stained red. It was a moment or two before I made the connection that the blood was coming from my own head. It didn t seem possible that it could be me. While I knelt down holding my hands to my face, my friends rushed up to help. Realising the severity of the injury, we knew we needed Mountain Rescue immediately. Due to our remote location, there was no mobile signal. Friends ran to find the nearest point of signal, about half an hour away. The air ambulance found us within the hour, landing on the top of the peak some distance away as the difficult terrain made it impossible to land nearer. The paramedic, Andy Mawson, walked down over loose boulders with an emergency IV drip, to which I was then attached. Thirteen members of MRT followed in the next half hour. Looking up at the team through one eye (the other was clotted shut with blood), I saw so many concerned faces looking down at me. With an oxygen mask on my face, drip in my arm and covered by blankets and clothing, my It won t happen to me other senses were mostly shut down, so I was listening intently to everything that was going on. The feeling of relief I felt at the arrival of Andy and CMRT is beyond description. I felt that nothing could happen as long as they were there. Together, they looked after me until the RAF arrived about three hours after the accident to airlift me to hospital. When the RAF Sea King rescue helicopter arrived and we were located using flares, I was lifted from the ground onto the stretcher and it was folded up around me. As the winch wound up, I looked up to see helicopter blades whirring, silhouetted by a dark sky behind. An attendant was leaning out of the helicopter and guiding the winch cable in. I felt like I was Call-out 39 at Brim Crags. watching the whole experience in the third person. Things like this don t happen in real life and they certainly don t happen to you! Lying in A&E at Carlisle Hospital, after the bleeding had been stemmed by an adrenalin injection I followed the second hand ticking on the ward clock and was overwhelmed by a feeling of how wonderful it was just to be alive. Many people were responsible for that, because without the efforts of everyone, I would have bled to death. Indeed, possibly, many years ago before the advent of the MRT this may have been the case. Instead I have ended up with a neat scar on my forehead and a feeling of numbness on the top of my head, which is incredible given that the cut had gone straight through to my skull. Following the accident I wrote to MRT to thank them. In September I was able to look round the Centre with my family thanks to Chris Abbot, the team member who helped coordinate my rescue. It was absolutely fascinating to see the base and the technology and equipment which are used to help rescue people. What struck me was just how organised everything was: all the rescue vehicles are packed meticulously, down to the last pair of scissors, and kept plugged in so they are ready for immediate departure. I suppose we take it for granted that Mountain Rescue will have a quick response time when we need them, but the work and prior planning that goes into making that possible is amazing. More importantly, it is the team members who give up their time to be on call at all hours of the day and night. The amount of energy and generosity that this takes should not be underestimated. I cannot thank enough. They helped to save my life and for that I will always be grateful. I hope that anyone who is reading this report feels inspired to donate to the team. Despite their incredible work, Mountain Rescue does not receive any financial help from the government and is funded entirely by charitable donations. Their work is lifesaving and they often receive little publicity for it. As I set out on the morning of 27th June, ready for a nice day on the hills, it didn t cross my mind that I would be thanking Mountain Rescue for my life. Accidents happen, and life is fragile. If you enjoy outdoor activities in the Lake District, please think about making a donation. Alex Caulfield

28 Limelighting and Limelighting Electrical Supplies wish the team all the best and are delighted to support their activities Station Road, CA13 9PZ Tel: / Liz Hunter Chartered Physiotherapist Experienced professional. A range of appointment times available in joint problems, sports injuries, back pain, acupuncture for pain relief. Lorton Street Clinic Cumbria Telephone Lake District Outdoor 37 Market Place CA13 9NF Lake District Outdoor offers an extensive range of outdoor clothing and accessories to suit your needs and pockets. Why not pop in and have a look around? Lisa and Jim are always on hand to offer friendly and professional advice. Tea and coffee area now available. Mitchells are pleased to support Mountain Rescue Team Mitchells Property & Estate Agency Land Agency, Compensation Claims, Valuations, Fine Arts Auctioneers & Valuers Lakeland Livestock Centre Enquiries to Head Office Tel: Official Paramo supplier to MRT Official outlet for Mountain Rescue Team merchandise

29 The MAMIL in the Alps Pete Hemngway on the Cormet de Roselend. Apparently these days the male midlife crisis is not characterized by a sudden desire for a convertible car or new fast chick but a need to slip in to some over tight lycra and hit the road on your bike. Top end road bike sales are reportedly up more than 20 per cent as the Middle-Aged Man In Lycra takes off. So it was that this summer half a dozen of the CMRT Mamils accompanied by various WAGS, friends and a bloke who claimed to be a Wing Commander, headed for the Grand Tour of the Alps. And what a trip it was; eight stages of breathtaking cycling following a 725 kilometres route from Geneva to Nice taking in some of the more famous mountain passes of the Tour de France and the Giro d Italia. At times it was tough, particularly for a recent convert to road biking. Try the Cime de Bonnette at 2,860 metres the highest bit of tarmac in Europe counting waymarkers for 25 kilometres at 10 per cent incline; but it s not as steep as Honister and you ve got 30 kilometres downhill to the restaurant to enjoy once you make the top. The wonderful scenery as the roads, painted with the names of recent Tour riders, wind up through the alpine meadows, to the rugged terrain and snow lined pass summits is well worth the effort. You just keep turning the pedals daydreaming that you re Lance on the way to another Champs-Élysées, trying not to notice you re being passed by some pot bellied Frenchman old enough to be Eddy Merckx s dad. And then you ve got the hairpin descent to look forward to once you ve summitted the pass; was Richard Hellen s 83 km/h better than my 53 mph and should Alison really have overtaken that oncoming car on the verge? It was more scary than flying a fast jet according to the Wing Commander, who didn t like the thought of tight Lycra meeting tarmac. How the French motorists loved us when, after several days trying, we managed to get all fifteen of us in a peleton up to 25mph along the roads into Nice. Once we had the smell of the sea there was no stopping us, as they waved and shouted encouragement, but we just wanted to bathe our saddle sores in the Med by then. The Grand Tour has to be recommended, you ll find loads of companies on the net who lay on organised trips and you can even get the Randonne Alpine Raid des Alpes medal if you can be bothered to collect the official stamps. As for us we must thank Bob Liddell the very master of organization and John Dempster who patiently provided daily support from CMRT base to Nice in a Benn s Transit van (and even managed to tick off a couple of via ferattas on the way). Steven Whitehurst

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31 We were a party of 13 starting out in warm sunshine from the road at the foot of Barrow on Wednesday 26th May Our route had already taken us, via Braithwaite, to the summit of Grisedale Pike and on to the top of Hopegill Head, passing the view down to Hobcarton, where I had talked about the Search and Rescue Dog Association training. Hobcarton is one of the favourite training places where I act as one of the bodies that the dogs have to find, the novelty of which has never worn off, I love it. We lunched on top of the Head and enjoyed amazing views, passing in and out of cloud, of the precipitous rocks. Over Sand Hill, across Coledale Hause and up the very eroded shoulder of Eel Crag, also known as Crag Hill, had brought us onto its summit. If we had been superstitious perhaps the Lightning storm number in our party would have been a clue as to what was to happen as we started to descend towards Sail. We were in light cloud when heavy raindrops started falling, enough for us to put on waterproof jackets. I was wearing a t-shirt and shorts and made the decision that this rain would be similar to the short shower we had had earlier and so did not put my over-trousers on, something I was very soon to regret. The realisation that this rain was rather different was the flash of lightning which appeared to hit the ground a few feet in front of me, at the same time I had a strange sensation of a flash either in or above my head and then moments later the crash of thunder. The thought in all our heads was to get out of here now. We were then engulfed in the most horrendous hail storm and I remember being so focused on where I was putting my feet and on the pain on my bare legs from the hailstones that I was only very vaguely aware of the lightning and crashes of thunder around us or of the danger we were in. Looking back on it, I wonder, if when you are so close to a storm you don t hear it as it is heard further away, where, I was later told it felt as though it was shaking buildings. I then did something that really annoyed me I fell, but couldn t work out why or how, just found myself, with a jolt, on my hands and knees in the mud. I picked myself up, thankfully not hurt, wiped the mud off and carried on, thinking all the time that I really should halt and put my trousers on in these appalling conditions, but didn t dare to stop. I was now at the back of the party and frightened of being left behind. Quite irrational I know for I knew full well that as soon as it was realised that a member was missing they would have stopped and come back for me, but my uppermost thought was that we must stay together. I then fell down again, I couldn t believe it, exactly as before, how or why have I fallen? This time I felt a pain in my right ankle, but thank goodness found that I could still walk, only to find, on looking up, that the person ahead of me was disappearing out of sight. What a lonely feeling, but what could I do, just carry on very slowly and carefully. I reached the top of the crags which lead down to the col between Eel Crag and Sail and to my immense relief the rest of the party was sitting on these crags. It was some sort of shelter. I bent over, taking hold of a rock to help me down so that I could join them, when somehow I found that I had fallen yet again. I seemed to have been flung round, landed on my bottom and badly twisted my right foot which was now above me and excruciatingly painful. I was very shaken, how I hadn t fallen further down the crag I ll never know, but at least I could now call for help. I remember saying a number of times, in disbelief, that I had fallen three times and was told, though for some reason I didn t seem to accept it, that it was the Call-out 28: casualty at Crag Hill. lightning that was making me fall. There didn t appear to be any connection, in my mind, with the falls and the actual thunder and lightning. I was to discover later that others in the party had also been falling. Now it was my opportunity to at last put my trousers on, quite an awkward and painful business, The storm had passed on a little by now and we were all making a move to carry on when it became apparent that I couldn t put any weight on my right foot. I reached the col at the foot of the crags on my hands and bottom, my hands freezing in the ice of the hailstones which were thick on the ground, before we took time to stop and get my gloves on. We couldn t carry on like this. It became obvious that the only way that I was going to get down was to be carried and that meant, what I had always dreaded, calling out the Mountain Rescue they were for other people, not me how wrong can you be! David, who was leading the walk on this occasion, took on the responsibility and he did it magnificently. He had to walk a little way to get a mobile phone signal and at this stage none of us realised how badly hurt he was. He had not only been thrown to the ground but had also suffered minor burns on his head and in his mouth as well as having a pain which had travelled up his leg. It was only later when we were waiting for our rescuers that he became aware of and admitted to these injuries. It was decided that David and another party member, Chris, an ex-nurse who was wonderfully calming and reassuring, would stay with me and the rest of the party, who were all pretty shaken, some with cuts and bruises but able to walk, would carry on. By this time I was wearing all my spare clothing and sitting under a survival tent in order to try and conserve some warmth. It took all my concentration to try and relax and stop myself shaking. All we could do was wait. I didn t know then whether help would come in the form of a helicopter or a ground party and I have to admit that thought of being hoisted up into a helicopter with a very painful foot was making me quite nervous. When the RAF Search and Rescue helicopter arrived, the paramedic was winched down and I felt completely in safe hands. He explained reassuringly exactly what was going to happen. First our backpacks were winched up, then Dave and Chris together then it was my turn with the paramedic. It all happened so quickly. Already in the helicopter was another casualty of the storm with head injuries and burns to his feet. He had been lifted off Grasmoor and the helicopter was later to lift another casualty off Wandope. We were finding ourselves in the middle of a big operation. We landed in Buttermere where an ambulance was waiting and the welcome sight of the red-coated members of Mountain Rescue Team coordinating everything. David and I were taken to Whitehaven Hospital where x-rays showed I had not broken any bones but had a badly sprained foot. David was kept in overnight as a precaution but allowed home next day. We were so lucky. Although a number of us were thrown to the ground and one of us had actually been burnt, the falls could have been much more serious on that terrain and the burns could have been fatal. Speaking for myself, I am determined not to let the experience put me off and as soon as I am able I will be back doing what I love walking the mountains and one of the first ones will be Eel Crag to lay some ghosts. Eleanor Paxon

32 Special People of Distinction Society (SPODS) Mike and Sue at the Bitter End, and the Royal Yew, Dean are delighted to be once again supporting the Mountain Rescue Team In memory of Frank and Doreen Sippetts and Brenda Treharne Greatly missed by SPODS Kirkgate, Dean THE FOX AND HOUNDS Ennerdale Bridge West Cumbria s Community Pub The Community Hub Limited is a cooperative and the sale of shares in that company has enabled the community to take on the lease and run the pub themselves. l A warm West Cumbrian welcome l Locally sourced real ales l Good pub grub with locally sourced ingredients cooked by our own chef l Lunch & evening menus, snacks available l Morning coffee and afternoon tea l B&B accommodation / Tourist Information l Support for coast-to-coast walkers This is Wainwright country and you are on the doorstep of the western lakes and fells. The end of the first (or last) day on the C2C walk. Step across the threshold into the tranquil Ennerdale Valley, walk along the lake shore, explore the Wild Ennerdale Project and enjoy the leisurely pace of rural life. See more on The Original Ironmonger J.B. Banks & Son Ltd Established 1836 Celebrating 175 years Quality hand tools, door furniture, gate hinges, garden and kitchen enamelware plus all those things you can t get anywhere else Market Place,, CA13 9NH info@jbbanks.co.uk Tel: As featured in Collector s Lot, Antiques Roadshow, Country Life, Cumbria Life and other publications

33 Ruth Gorge Expedition 2010 I d been wanting to go to Alaska for a number of years, but finding somebody else willing and able to go had proved no easy task. I d talked about it to Steve Brailey and others a number of times but, one night in the pub in late 2009, talk turned from it would be great to go to Alaska to a more determined when and where. The trip was born. A lot of research (thanks Steve) and hard work later (including trying to book cheap last minute flights to Anchorage) and everything seemed to be coming together. The one thing we hadn t counted on was the dust cloud from the volcano in Iceland. It was a nervous couple of weeks leading up to our departure and, as the date approached, flights were back on but would the planes be in the correct places? Checking the websites, everything seemed on, so we set off for the airport in good time. Having decided to go to Manchester Airport via the M56 rather than the M61/M60, we d just passed the turn off for the M61 when traffic ground to a halt on the motorway. Nothing was moving. We turned on the traffic announcements on the radio but heard nothing. An hour had gone by and we could see a helicopter circling overhead but knew nothing about what was going on. After all that work and worrying about the dust cloud, were we going to miss the flight? Another 30 minutes later and the traffic started moving. We arrived at the airport before the check-in opened! I started to relax a little at this point. Fortunately, the flights to Anchorage went smoothly and we soon found ourselves in the guesthouse we d booked. We had a full day the following day to pick up the skis we d hired and buy food for two and a half weeks so, that evening, we decided to sample some of the local beers and grab a bite to eat. The day after the mammoth food shopping, we d arranged to meet a friend of a friend early in the day as they d offered to give us a lift to Talkeetna. By 07:00 we were duly on board an ageing, temperamental, VW camper van being given a guided tour of the areas en route to Talkeetna. Arriving in Talkeetna just before lunch and well ahead of schedule gave us the opportunity to be flown into the Ruth Gorge that day. We just had time to sign in at the Ranger Station, grab a bite to eat and a few last minute essentials (bread and cheese) before packing and weighing our kit. We then had an amazing flight into the Ruth Gorge, landing on the glacier close to a small community of tents. Having quickly unloaded our gear, we watched and took photos as our plane, and another that was already on the ground nearby, took off and headed back to Talkeetna. The weather wasn t brilliant with the surrounding peaks being capped in cloud and the odd snow flake making it all the way down to glacier level. I can t claim we were on our own as there were a number of tents some 200 metres away, but this wasn t where we wanted to be, so we put on skis and a rope and started to haul our pulks (sledges packed with gear and food) further up the glacier so we were closer to Mount Barrill. Nearly two hours later, we found what we thought was the perfect campsite. Splendid views out over the Ruth Amphitheatre, views of the Mooses Tooth, Mount Barrill and Mount Dickey amongst other peaks and safe from avalanche. Later we would find out that it was also a very good location to make the most of the available sunshine! We now felt like we were on our own. Camp was quickly established with the tent dug into the glacier to protect us from any winds that may develop in the coming weeks. The following day we explored up into the mouth of the Ruth Amphitheatre and a day after that we went down the glacier to recce the route up onto Mount Dickey. That evening, as we cooked our evening meal in our purposebuilt kitchen, I happened to say how lucky we were to have the place to ourselves. Less than ten minutes later we heard a plane. Nothing unusual about that as there are lots of sightseeing flights passing overhead most of the day but this plane was much lower and seemed to be about to land. We now had neighbours! Three people from Colorado. After a day in the tent due to poor weather, we decided to give Mount Barrill a go via the Japanese Couloir. This proved to be a long day, descending in twilight and getting back to the tent in the dark with a bitterly cold wind blowing. No cooking outside, as we had become accustomed to the previous two days. We were just glad to get into the tent and our sleeping bags and brew up from there. It had been a really good day out though, a really long steep couloir, followed by a traverse and then a broad ridge to the summit. Snow conditions varied from really good snow and ice to sugar snow which was hard to make progress on and very scary when you did! The views at the top made it all worthwhile even if the couloir seemed twice as long in descent. We abseiled a couple of pitches due to the sugary snow and s

34 front pointed the rest of the way down; it seemed to go on and on. A rest day was now in order, followed by another rest day, enforced by snow. It also snowed all the following night and the first job of the morning was to dig the tent out. Another rest day was necessary as any mountaineering after such a snow fall would be risky due to the increased likelihood of avalanches. Indeed from camp that day we saw a number of impressive avalanches from the surrounding peaks. Eventually we decided things had settled down sufficiently to make Mount Dickey a feasible objective. This again proved to be a long tiring day and we didn t quite get to the top. We thought we could see the top a few hundred metres further on from our high point. Not a great deal higher than we were but it would take a long time and tire us even more, wading through knee-deep, and sometimes waistdeep snow, to get there. Time was getting on and we decided the safest option was to turn back, to enable us to get down some of the steeper slopes before they warmed up too much and became dangerous. During the following day s rest day, we visited our neighbours and chatted to them about climbing and expeditions and then about the route they d tried a couple of days earlier, the West Ridge on the Mooses Tooth. They d had a nightmare with the sugary snow conditions they d encountered most of the way up after their high camp and decided to turn back just before the summit. It sounded like quite an ordeal. The West Ridge on the Mooses Tooth was a slightly bigger undertaking than the other routes we d tried and required us to pack up camp, load all the gear into our pulks and haul them up the glacier to the bottom of the route. There we would leave the pulks with all the gear we didn t need (including our VHF radio used for contact with the planes that fly overhead). We would then climb and establish the camp on a flat shoulder of ground just before the difficulties started. From the camp we aimed to climb to the summit and back to the high camp in a day, spend a second night at s the high camp before striking camp. We would have one night on the glacier before our scheduled pickup. Early the next morning we packed up, dividing the gear into two piles, the gear we would leave in the pulks and what we would need on the hill. In good time we were hauling the pulks to the bottom of the route a few kilometres away from where we d been camping. A couple of hours later and we d left our pulks and were trying to find our way through a maze of crevasses in order to start our ascent to high camp. Weighed down with heavy sacks, roped up and crossing precarious snow bridges, getting through the crevasse field was quite a tense journey, but not as tense as it would be on the way back! Once through we started the climb to high camp. After an initial low angled section, the angle steepened and the route became threatened by seracs. We moved as fast as we could and chose a route that minimised our time under these time bombs. The going was tough with heavy sacks and the sun was just starting to make itself known. As the angle eased a little just before an icefall, I broke through into two crevasses, up to my waist both times, but managed to haul myself out without too much trouble or panic. Shortly after this point, whilst we were in a relatively safe place, we decided to take a break, have something to eat and drink, admire the scenery and work out the route to high camp. We noticed the cloud building in the distance and then the halo around the sun. From what we d read, this spelt bad weather approaching in the next twelve hours or so. We decided we didn t want to get stuck up at high camp in a snow storm and potentially risk missing our flight out, so we decided to descend. I led off on the way down, trying to avoid the crevasses I d gone into on the way up. Just after starting down the steep bit, I heard a cry from behind and turned to see Steve sliding head first downhill. He managed to ice axe brake and bring himself to a stop. It all happened in a moment but seemed to go on for ages. Steve indicated he d twinged his knee and, as I walked back uphill to see how he was, I Steve at the Summit, Mount Dickey, Ruth Glacier. suggested he gave it a minute, thinking he d just jarred it. But he had stepped into a crevasse and, with the movement of going downhill and carrying a heavy sack, he had twisted round, fallen sideways and tried to bend his knee in a direction it doesn t bend. We gave it a minute and started on our way down again, but it soon became apparent all was not well with Steve s knee. He couldn t weight-bear for the pain. Getting back to our pulks and the VHF radio wasn t going to be straightforward. Lying on his good side Steve slid down the steep slope whilst I lowered him on the rope. Although he was in a lot of pain, this seemed to work relatively well and we made good progress, albeit really slow in comparison to walking down normally. The whole time, I was aware of the seracs that hung above this steep slope. As we neared the crevasse field on the glacier, the slope became less and less steep and it was much harder for Steve to slide himself along. Steve now tried to hop/hobble using his trekking poles for assistance. We were still roped together as we approached the crevasse field, Steve in the lead and me following with the gear. We were travelling slowly now, trying to retrace our steps through the crevasse field back to our pulks. This was really painstaking and, for Steve, painful. As we neared the half way point we could see three people on skis heading up the glacier towards us and, by the time we were half way, they were with us. It was our neighbours from Colorado, with a welcome offer of assistance. Two of them helped Steve, eventually putting him on an empty pulk and towing him out of the crevasse field. The other person helped me with the gear. Once back at our pulks we thanked them for their assistance, but their help didn t stop there. They used their SAT phone to phone Talkeetna Air Taxis (TAT), the company that had flown us onto the glacier and arranged a pickup for us in 45 minutes (good job our gear was already packed!). They then towed Steve and one of our pulks, whilst I towed the other pulk, down to an airstrip that had been prepared on the glacier a few days earlier by another group. Within the hour, the plane was on the ground and we were loading our kit on board. We thanked our new friends and left them with our last two cans of beer and our spare fuel. The flight out was amazing. As we approached Talkeetna, what had been snow and ice on the way in was now flowing rivers and brown grassland. The people at TAT were ever so helpful. They lent Steve some crutches, booked us a taxi back to Anchorage and even brought Steve his breakfast to the bunkhouse the following morning. Likewise, the taxi driver; he took us to the guest house in Anchorage to drop off our kit, then took another passenger to the airport and finally gave us a lift to the hospital for no extra charge. He even offered to pick us up from the hospital when we were finished! I got the impression the hospital was really good too, from what Steve said. Certainly from what I saw, I was impressed: friendly, helpful staff and a pleasant atmosphere (well, for a hospital). The whole visit to Alaska (apart fromsteve breaking his leg) had been a fantastic experience. The journey back a few days early (arranged by the insurance company) all went smoothly... that was until we arrived in Heathrow, but that s another story... Despite our little epic, both Steve and I are planning on a return visit in Any takers? Chris Cookson

35 rock kids theatre jazz river clean up solstice picnic indie music Firns Home Hardware 4 Station Street Cumbria CA13 9QD firnhomehardware@btconnect.com Tel: Fax: A WARM WELCOME GUARANTEED AT FIRNS SINCE 1939 AND STILL AT YOUR SERVICE IF YOU VALUE TRADITIONAL HIGH STREET SHOPPING TRY FIRNS FIRST FOR ALL YOUR DIY, HARDWARE & TOOLS, HOUSEWARES AND GARDENING NEEDS SEE STOCK LISTING AT WE DELIVER DAILY IN TOWN ORDER BY NOON & DELIVERED BETWEEN 2 & 5pm SAME DAY PHONE FIRNS FIRST , GUARANTEED A HUMAN WILL ANSWER NO HANGING ON AND NO AUTOMATIC ANSWERING MACHINES (although we do sell telephones and answering machines!!!) US WITH YOUR ENQUIRY: firnhomehardware@btconnect.com Open 6 days a week on-sat 9am to 5.30pm Try Firns first june 2011 acts include Stuart Maconie and Snake Davis plus: treasure hunt carnival shops gala day castle tours classical music dance family fun day bedtime stories folk comedy cockermouth midsummer festival 2011 including sat 25 june: cockermouth LIVE! free music, dance & more!

36 COCKERMOUTH ROCK FESTIVAL IS PLEASED TO SUPPORT COCKERMOUTH MOUNTAIN RESCUE 22ND-24TH JULY OVER 160 LIVE BANDS AND DJS ON 8 STAGES WELLINGTON FARM, LAMPLUGH ROAD, COCKERMOUTH , 4play Cycles, Angling & Outdoors, Banks, Bassenthwaite Sailing Club Bassenfell Manor, Bassenthwaite Belle View Inn, Bike Bank, Workington Billy Bowman Music Shop, Bitter Beck Pottery, Bitter End, Black Bull, Black Sail YH Bleach Green Bothy, Gillerthwaite Bowness Knott Brewery House, Broughton Bridge Hotel, Buttermere Bush Inn, Buttermere YH Cleator Pie Shop, Cleator YH Coffee and Cream, Commercial Inn, Dearham Crag Farm, Buttermere Dalegarth House, Buttermere Derwent House Surgery, Derwent Lodge, Embleton Dockray Meadow, Lamplugh Ennerdale YH Fagan s, Fairfield Garage, Fanny Mercer Fell & Rock Club, Buttermere Firns, Fish Inn, Buttermere Fox & Hounds, Ennerdale Galloping Horse, Harrington Gatesgarth Van Golf Club, Grange Hotel, Loweswater Grey Goat, Greyhound Inn, Bothel GT News, Gun Shop, Workington Harrison s Butchers, Higham Hall, Bassenthwaite COLLECTION BOXES The Team is very grateful to the people and places who display our boxes. New box holders are very welcome. Please contact Derek Tunstall, who will be happy to supply one / Honister YH Hundith Hill Hotel, Lorton Hunters Bar, Inglenook Caravan Park, Lamplugh Jennings brewery shop, Junipers, Kingfisher Hotel, Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater Lakeland Crafts, Buttermere Lakeland Seasons, Lifestyle Repairs, Lily & Co, Limelighting, Link House B & B, Embleton Lorton shop Low Park, Loweswater Maureen at Gatesgarth Melbreak Hotel Mills, Mitchells, Moota Garden Centre New Bookshop, New House Farm, Lorton Old Mill Inn Old Posting House, Dean Ouse Bridge, Bassenthwaite Paper Shop, Parkside Hotel, Cleator Party HQ, Pet Shop, Pheasant Hotel, Bassenthwaite Punchbowl Inn, Broughton Quince & Medlar, Sainsburys (inside), Sainsburys (outside), Sandwich Bar, Scales Farm, Embleton Sheila Richardson Shepherds Arms Shills, Ship Inn, Dovenby Simple Drinks, Ski & Outdoor Warehouse, Longtown Slatefell Stores, Snooty Fox, Uldale Sole it, Lock it, Workington Southfield School, Workington Stork Hotel, Rowrah Swan Inn, Swinside End, Lorton The Brow, Lorton The Howe, Mosser The Old Vicarage, Lorton Tithe Barn, Tourist Information, Travis Perkins, Walkinshaw Garage, Workington Wellington Farm, Wheatsheaf Inn, Lorton Wheatsheaf Inn, Embleton Whinlatter Visitor Centre Whitehaven Rambling Club, Whitehaven Wild Duck, Branthwaite Winder Hall, Lorton Wishes, Woodhouse Guest House Wordsworth Hotel, Wyndham Caravan Park, Yew Tree Inn, Dean

37 Mountain Rescue Team, PO Box 73,, Cumbria CA13 3AE Presentation of Long Service Awards. Left to right, standing: Dave Blanden (25 years), Team President Maureen Richardson, Rod Moore (25 years), Bob Liddell (40 years), Steve Jones (25 years) and Mike Hadwin (25 years). Kneeling in foreground: Michael Park (25 years).