Sprinkling Tarn (40)

Callout Date: 04/04/2026
Callout Time: 9:51 pm
Agencies Involved: Keswick MRT

On Saturday, 4 April 2026, the team was alerted via a satellite relay service to two teenagers wild camping near Sprinkling Tarn. Their tent had been destroyed by the high winds of Storm Dave, leaving them cold, wet, and stranded. Due to communication difficulties with the relay centre, two teams were deployed to the area.

Fallen trees blocked the Borrowdale road, forcing the teams to divert via Portinscale. Splitting into two groups, members approached via Grains Gill and the Sty Head path. The teenagers were located sheltering in the Sty Head stretcher box; they were cold but otherwise unharmed. During the search, the team also located a solo camper near Sprinkling Tarn who required an escort off the hill. All three individuals were safely walked down to Seathwaite and returned to their vehicles.

Incidents like this highlight why it is so important to check the weather before heading out. High-altitude camping in a named storm carries extreme risks, not just for the campers, but for the volunteers who have to navigate blocked roads and dangerous winds to reach them.

21 team members – 4 hours and 39 minutes