Fell top assessors have urged people to exercise caution while attempting to summit some of the Lake District’s highest peaks during the cold snap.
This comes as part of their Summit Safely campaign, in which Jon Bennett, Wes Hunter and Zac Poulton try to make people think twice before summiting recklessly.
On Monday, Zac spotted two men on Helvellyn attempting Striding Edge just wearing trainers and tracksuit bottoms, despite the fact it was -7C. The men also had a lack of appropriate equipment, such as ice axes or crampons.
Zac said: “It’s very common to underestimate our fells. There was -18C of windchill on Sunday, even with the best kit and plenty of experience it’s a big step up from following the crowds on a warm summer’s day.”
Thankfully, the people decided they had bitten off more than they could chew, and decided to turn around.
Zac added: “I kept an eye on them and thankfully they turned around about a quarter of the way along the tricky and exposed bit of the ridge. They then made their slow way back to Glenridding, slipping and sliding on the icy paths.”
Last year, there were 84 incidents that the Patterdale Mountain Rescue team had to deal with.
Naturally, snowy conditions make some of the popular Lake District walks, such as Helvellyn via Striding Edge, treacherous.
Zac urged people to listen to his one key piece of advice before attempting to summit the fells.
He said: “The main bit of advice is always be prepared to turn back. Conditions in winter can be so variable that you always need that flexible approach.
“In terms of planning and prep then the advice is be adventure smart and ask yourself three questions: Do I have the right gear?
“Do I know what the weather will be like? Am I confident I have the knowledge and skills for the day? An excellent starting point is the condition reports from the Fell Top Assessors at Lake District Weatherline.”
Milder conditions are forecast to gradually return over the weekend and into next week.
