Sharp Edge, Blencathra (3)

Callout Date: 22/01/2020
Callout Time: 2:55 pm
Agencies Involved: Keswick MRT

After climbing Blencathra from Mungrisedale a young man, after considering his options, decided to descend via Sharp Edge. The weather was cloudy with a fine drizzle falling and everything was slick with moisture. At the bottom of the steep initial descent and just at the start of the Sharp Edge traverse the man slipped on the extremely greasy rock and fell about 10ft bashing his shoulder and twisting his ankle. He had been carrying 2 ice axes and it was one of those that had stopped him falling further. In pain and somewhat shaken up he called 999 and asked for Mountain Rescue help. A team of five quickly set off from Keswick base in the Landrover shortly followed by a Sprinter with further team members in case the casualty needed to be stretchered down. The team made their way up Mousethwaite Comb, up past Scales Tarn and along Sharp Edge to find the casualty in good spirits but getting cold after his wait. The man was harnessed up and given a helmet before being rope-lowered down to awaiting team members on what is known as the Chicken Path from where he could be safely walked off.

12 team members – 3 hours 55 minutes