Search

People leaving the New Dungeon Ghyll hotel observed flashing lights from the valley. When team members arrived, they also saw them. When they arrived on the summit to investigate, they found approximately eight people scattered around the few flat bits sleeping peacefully. They denied any part in any flashing light type antics, but there seemed little likelihood that anyone else was involved.
 

Two men on a sponsored walk were reported overdue. They were amongst 20 or so unaccounted for, but for some reason were causing the organisers concern, when the others weren't. We found them after a brief search. We went home quickly before the status of any of the others changed. The organisers had a great plan in place with respect to emergencies, but like all plans they work really well until you introduce people into them! Mountain Rescue Teams in the Lake District share a common dislike for sponsored events on the hills.

Campers, including an Auxiliary Coastguard, spotted flares in the vicinity of Stickle Tarn. The area was searched with manpower and a dog, but nothing was found.
 

While on callout 20, we were notified that a man was missing in the same area. A brief search located him, safe and well.
 

This location is becoming a favourite, and so are the circumstances. Lost in mist and unable to find their way off, this group of six used a mobile phone to ask for help. They were located by 'Paddy', a four-legged team member, and escorted off by some of our two legged team members. No one was injured. This was Paddy's first find.
 

A visiting senior policeman spotted a 'cylinder type' object under a stone and reported a bomb to Cumbria police. We (!) were sent to investigate and the Bomb Disposal people were alerted. We found the suspect device to be conventional smoke flare and carried it down. Everyone went home.

The team members who had managed to avoid the previous incident, (and we know who they were) were sent instead to Grizedale Tarn to check for the source of whistles that had been heard by two descending climbers. A search with dogs and personnel found nothing, but we later found out that an incident had occurred and the party had self-evacuated.
 

We were asked to assist Kendal MRT in the search for a 30-year-old man who had gone for a 'short walk' at 12.30 and was now well overdue. Information we received suggested he was in Kentmere, or Scout Scar near Kendal. He was eventually located at Sandside, a small village on the coast, (it's miles away from where we were looking!) so we all went home. You just have to be philosophical at times like this.
 

While we were clearing up the last job, we were made aware of the possibility of a group of eight in difficulty descending from the Tarn. We went up to the dam, via several possible routes and encountered only two descending climbers, who were in no difficulty.

A man descended to Langstrath and reported his three friends as stranded on the summit of Harrison Stickle. We sent a party through appalling road conditions to look for them, and found them in the Stickle Barn pub, wondering where their friend was. It would seem that he became separated from the others and went the wrong way!

Two people became lost in blizzard conditions. They phoned for help. They were eventually located at around 7.15pm, and escorted to the valley, cold but unhurt. The conditions they encountered were just as forecast, so should not have been a surprise to anyone.<td>

Two men were reported overdue, after separating from their friends at the bottom of Jack's Rake. They failed to make their agreed rendezvous in the Stickle Barn pub. A large scale search was organised, involving ourselves, Keswick MRT, SARDA dogs, and Kendal MRT. The two were located around 11.30pm, cold , wet, but well, in Langstrath. They were escorted down to Borrowdale, and then returned to their overnight accommodation, via Ambleside.

While dealing with the earlier incident, we were made aware of a group of people who had used a mobile phone to report themselves lost on Crinkle Crags. They were eventually located around 9pm near Three Tarns, and escorted to the valley.

Cries for help were heard in the area. We investigated and found a local farmer bringing in his sheep. Our assistance was not required!

 A couple in their 40's were reported overdue at their holiday accommodation in Ambleside. They had set off from Langdale to go to Scafell at around 9.30am and not returned. A search was being organised when they turned up. They had gone off Scafell on the Wasdale side in error, and had to take a taxi back to Ambleside.

Two male mountain bikers, one aged 44, one aged 50, were reported overdue from a ride. One was reported to suffer from a medical condition. Clues in their car suggested they had either gone over into Langdale, Tilberthwaite and Claife Heights, or onto the Helvellyn range. With the aid of Keswick and Patterdale MRTs, we searched a large area for them. They were located at 9.30am, next morning, having spent the night in the Armboth Fell area.

A concerned citizen called in to Grasmere Information Centre and reported seeing a group of six, in difficulty, descending Cockley Crag. Before we were able to speak to this informant, they disappeared. We investigated, located a group who had been experiencing difficulty in a different area, and went home. Let's be honest! Reporting half the story is neither use, nor ornament. If somebody is going to report an incident, they've got to stick around so we can talk to them!

Shouts for help were heard in the area. This was reported to us and we went to investigate. Several people were spoken to and nobody appeared to be in difficulty. It's just possible that someone was having a 'laugh' and it went to far!