Lake District: Hikers stranded on Scafell Pike in gale force gusts

The group decided to hike England's tallest mountain in the early hours of Thursday despite there being a forecasted yellow wind warning, which included storm-force gusts at height and heavy rain. 

The wet and windy conditions the mountain rescue team faced during the rescue (Image: Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team)

The party of three left the valley at 8pm on Wednesday night and became separated. Two reported themselves lost and soaked as their waterproofs had succumbed to the 'heavy and prolonged rain.' The other could not be contacted. 

The rescuers said that there were some lessons to 'learn and share' (Image: Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team)

After considering the risks, eight members of Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team, along with rescuers from the Duddon and Furness team and the Lake District search dogs, set off at 1.15am in very wet and very windy conditions for an over seven-hour-long rescue. 

A spokesperson from Wasdale MRT said: "From a conversation with the party of two, it was deemed most likely that they were at the head of Piers Gill and so teams headed up the valley to begin the ascent. It was considered too risky to attempt a ‘talk-off’ due to poor communications and their likely location."

The torrent caused by the wind and rain (Image: Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team)

Piers Gill is a known accident blackspot on Scafell Pike. 

The lone walker was located in the car park at Brackenclose, allowing the search dogs and Duddon and Furness MRT to stand down. 

"Team members made their way to Piers Gill and were able to locate the group of two in the expected place. They then safely negotiated challenging weather conditions and rising water levels on the descent to the valley," the spokesperson continued. 

There was a forecasted yellow wind warning (Image: Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team)

The mountain rescuers said that there were 'some lessons to learn and share' from the incident. 

Weather warnings are more severe on the mountains, and the team members reported some gusts nearly blowing them off their feet. 

"The mountain will be there another day. Navigation is always much more challenging in poor weather," said a team spokesman.

"Stick together as a group. Again it is much easier to lose track of people in poor conditions. Thankfully all off the hill safe and well," the spokesperson said. 

The UK Three Peaks challenge involves ascending and descending Snowdonia, Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike in 24 hours.