A MOUNTAIN rescue team, which this year will celebrate its 70th anniversary, spent some time in Scotland last week, training for serious incidents they may come across.
Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team went to the Cairngorms alongside fellow Cumbrian team Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team, where they trained for serious weather conditions such as avalanche conditions that may help them in the future.
Every winter, the team visit Badaguish near Aviemore, to train for various snow skills they 'perhaps don't get as much chance to train for in the Lake District'.
The teams spent Thursday, January 26 on a 'day out' in the mountains, understanding the conditions in the region - which allows people to understand what it's like to deal with seriously adverse weather conditions.
Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team Member Tom Durcan said: "All of our coats were frozen solid on top of us because it was that wet and cold on top of the mountains - you could knock your coat and it made a hollow noise."
Over the following days, the team also did some excercises around responding to avalanches and digging people out of avalanches, as well as a 'call-out' scenario on top of the mountains to 'sharpen skills'.
The training allows the teams to perfect their skills to deal with the possibility of 'big chaotic situations' if they were to occur in the Lake District.
Tom said: "It's a really great event, it's just really great to be a part of, you learn and hone your skills, there's great camaraderie between us and with the other teams.
READ MORE: Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team to mark 70 years
"It helps us straight away because we are working with Patterdale, meaning if we do have any call outs we have strengthened that relationship.
"It refreshes people's skills and makes sure they're on point. Two years ago we had call outs where we were getting dropped onto the likes of Pillar Mountain in winter conditions and there is no time to worry about if you know what you're doing - you just have to make sure you know instinctively.
"God forbid if there's an avalanche, because they're so rare, you really have to make sure you have trained so you know exactly what you have to do in one of those big chaotic situations."
READ MORE: Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team called to incident in Burtness Comb
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