KESWICK Mountain Rescue Team A Registered Charity Number 509860 Annual Report 2002 KESWICK MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM Back Row, L. to R.: Alan Prescott, Piers Warburton, Simon Hodgson, Roy Henderson, Ian Wallace, Peter Little, Andy Jones, Lance Waudby, Pete Barron, Brian Martland, Chris Strutt, Mark Hodgson, Peter White, Keith Stephenson, David Pratt, Chris Francis, Paul Horder, Fl. Lt. Rich Wood, Fl. Lt. Steve Johnson, F.S. Al Heggarty, M.A.L.M. John McCormick Front Row, L. to R.: Katharine Horder, Paul Carter, Jill Messenger, Scott Henderson, Brian Spencer, Simon Noble, Phil Newton, Neil Dowie, Mist, Mick Guy, Kali, Martin Bell, Malcolm Miller, Mike Fanning, Mike Nixon, Robin Humphreys, Anne Francis, Foss, Loch Photograph: Alan Prescott Keswick Mountain Rescue Team 2002 Keswick Mountain Rescue Team Team Leader: Mark Hodgson Deputy Team Leaders: Roy Henderson President: Mike Nixon MBE Chris Higgins Chairman: Mike Fanning Simon Hodgson Secretary: Neil Dowie Medical Officer: Dr Peter White Royal Oak Hotel Training Officers: Jill Messenger Rosthwaite Phil Newton Keswick Radio Officer: Alan Prescott Treasurer: lan Wallace Transport Officer: Allan Alcock Spooney Green Equipment Officers: Martin Bell Spooney Green Lane Chris Higgins Keswick Control Room Quartermaster: Keith Stephenson Tel: 017687 72601 Report Editor: Peter Little Collection Box Co-ordinator: Brian Spencer Honorary Auditor: John Wood Daresfield Chestnut Hill Keswick CALLOUT LIST: Allan Alcock Forecourt Attendant Robin Humphreys Cashier Donald Angus Retired Andy Jones Police Constable Peter Barron National Park Ranger Peter Little Pharmacist Martin Bell Ambulance Technician Brian Martland Retired Fiona Boyle Lecturer Jill Messenger Diabetes Support Worker Paul Carter Production Manager Malcolm Miller Head Teacher Neil Dowie Hotelier Phil Newton Retired Mike Fanning Solicitor Mike Nixon MBE Retired Anne Francis Teacher Simon Noble Teacher Chris Francis Research Assistant Des Oliver Retired Mick Guy Head Teacher David Pratt Teacher Roy Henderson National Trust Warden Alan Prescott Senior Manager Scott Henderson National Park Ranger David Robinson Shop Manager Chris Higgins Outdoor Pursuits Instructor Brian Spencer Retired Mark Hodgson Chartered Builder Keith Stephenson Joiner Simon Hodgson Builder Chris Strutt Trainee Solicitor Dr Tim Hooper GP lan Wallace Retired Katharine Horder Head Teacher Piers Warburton National Trust Estate Worker Paul Horder Teacher Dr Peter White GP 1 page one Editorial Emerald Keswick Mountain Rescue Team Welcome to the Annual Report of Keswick Mountain On an individual level, during the Spring and Summer, we all Rescue Team. missed the fells. Gradually, access was granted. An early re- Within this Report you will find details of our activities for 2001, opening was the climbing ground of Shepherds Crag, a boon for the year within which the “Foot and Mouth” epidemic struck. all climbers, and, of course, for the climbers within the Team. Many restrictions were introduced to limit the spread of the Members pursued individual fitness programmes but it was disease, and walking in the countryside, away from the roads, apparent that, collectively, we needed to remain strong. Strong became impossible. Large areas of the fells were closed for for Team procedures and methods, but also strong socially - the months. Consequently, the Team had a low number of callouts. maintenance of team cohesion was seen to be essential. I’ve included here a map showing the large area of the Lake As an expression of the extent to which the Team maintained its District that comes under the responsibility of Keswick MRT. readiness to meet the exigencies of the situation post Foot & You will realise that watersheds largely determine the boundaries Mouth, a continuing training schedule was planned. Like the of “our” area. The area includes the “Northern Fells” , as defined whole country, of course, we didn’t know how long the crisis by Wainwright, the Thirlmere side of the Helvellyn range, would last. We certainly didn’t want to be a “start-up” team once Langstrath and adjoining fells, Borrowdale with its classic fells the crisis had been resolved. The base, with its comprehensive and many rockclimbing playgrounds, the Newlands valley and climbing wall facilities, was fully used. Some fells were open Derwent Fells, and the east side of the fells in the Whinlatter again, (and shut again !), e.g. Walla Crag, (courtesy of the Forest area. Our “patch” includes three of the four 3000-foot National Trust), where we conducted practices. The territory of mountains, since in addition to Skiddaw and Helvellyn included Shepherds Crag became invaluable for training purposes. in those areas mentioned above, we “go” right up to the summit Various articles within this Report demonstrate the health of of Scafell Pike. Keswick MRT. The year 2002 sees the Team go “emerald” in a In practice some adjacent Teams may well encroach into our way - it’s our 55th anniversary ! The Team will, no doubt, area, and we may visit other areas in the course of a callout. We enhance its healthy and innovator status, and demonstrate that may well call upon other Teams to help us in an incident, or a it is by no means “green” as that word would otherwise suggest. particular callout may be a joint effort. For example, Keswick and I hope you enjoy reading this Report, and let’s all have a fine year Wasdale Teams might combine in a search of the Scafell massif. on the green and pleasant fells. For our recording purposes, a callout is an incident when Team Peter Little members have been deployed, i.e. they have left the base, or have started up the hill. Some personnel, for instance those who live up the Borrowdale valley, might go directly to the incident. Reference to alerts is made in the Team Leader’s Report. 2 page two A Variety of Training ! Keswick Mountain Rescue Team Ice Axe Braking in Scotland. Photo: Fiona Boyle Helicopter Winching. Mick and Mist outside HQ. Ice Climbing in Scotland. Photo: Mark Hodgson Photo: Mick Guy Photo: Phil Newton 3 page three Chairman’s Report Keswick Mountain Rescue Team Keswick Mountain Rescue Team has, traditionally, avoided a Self sufficiency, at the very least, includes an ability to plan an publicly critical approach towards those unfortunate enough to achievable route according to strengths and weakness, the require its services. On the contrary, the Team has been at pains ability to navigate that route, to take clothing adequate for the to meet and redress criticism of the vast majority of victims of weather likely to be encountered, and to know when enough is mountain accidents who do not deserve any adverse comment enough before tiredness sets in. But self-sufficiency is now, to an whatsoever. admittedly small (but growing) minority, the limited ability to dial on a mobile phone and quote the GPS reading to the Rescue Perhaps because we had so few rescues last year (as a Team when the going gets a little too tough, or too wet and consequence of foot and mouth disease) that minority which windy, or too dark. seemed to arise from avoidable situations spring to mind more readily than in “normal” years. Accordingly, and intended in an Of course, mobile phones and GPS systems are of educational way, a little criticism follows. immeasurable value when rescue is genuinely required, and I certainly don't wish to discourage their use in such As stressed in my Report last year, rescue team members have circumstances - quite the contrary. But, rescue can be too no problem in assisting those who have, in good faith, strong a word to apply to that minority of calls which arise solely misjudged either the conditions, or their own strengths. Gaining because it is easier to call a rescue team than, for example, to the valuable experience that makes a good mountaineer can be learn to read a map and compass. a hit and miss affair, and mistakes (and accidents) will happen along the way. Mountain Rescue Teams are the backups when The irony is that it is the near certainty of rapid rescue in the Lake the best laid of plans go awry. However, there does seem to be District (as a result of the well-developed network of volunteer Mike climbing in Scotland. an increase in the number of people venturing onto the hill Teams) that underpins the too casual approach to hill-craft by Photo: Phil Newton without any perception of the real spirit of mountaineering. At this minority. Whilst little more than an annoyance to rescuers least a part of that spirit is the requirement for self-sufficiency here, such an attitude will (and no doubt already has) cost lives that exists from the most humble hike to the grandest of if transferred to the wilder environment of the Scottish hills, or Himalayan epics. beyond. Sadly, there will be those who learn that lesson too late. Mike Fanning 4 page four Team Leader’s Report Keswick Mountain Rescue Team There we were, enjoying some fine winter conditions, the best RAF and Navy helicopters were used to great effect on 9 for a few years with snow and ice on the higher fells and a fairly rescues, including one long rescue in poor weather and high consistent cold spell, when along came “Foot and Mouth” and winds on Sharp Edge where we were “bombed” by our own put paid to that, along with all its other devastating coffee flasks by the crew, as the helicopter was unable to land. consequences. As a Team, we were little affected by the It had remained on stand-by in Keswick for several hours, disease, albeit some of our Team members, involved with the awaiting our call when we had descended out of the cloud so tourist trade and reliant upon the business that visitors bring to that they could fly in and pick up the casualty for evacuation to the area, found their businesses and jobs affected.