Sty Head Pass (2)

Callout Date: 01/01/2023
Callout Time: 5:32 pm
Agencies Involved: Keswick MRT

The second callout of New Year’s Day. A couple made an early start from Seathwaite to climb Scafell Pike with their dog. They made the top in good time and descended but got a bit confused and somehow ended up in Wasdale. They corrected their mistake by climbing back out but again got a bit lost not far from Sty Head Pass. One of the party suffered a panic attack on the steep ground so, despite being well equipped with clothing and head torches, they thought it best to get help by calling 999 and asking for Mountain Rescue. By wandering around they found a mobile signal to call in and give an approximate location. Unfortunately the team could not contact them again to get a Phone Find fix on their location. A small team went out with a team search dog to try to locate the missing couple.

The team searched the area on the Borrowdale side of Sty Head Tarn with no luck so proceeded to the stretcher box on Sty Head Pass from where a plan was being formulated to split up and search different paths. Suddenly search dog Isla bolted off away and down a steep gully away from the main paths. We gave chase only to find Isla barking as she had successfully located the couple, an excellent and impressive find. It is doubtful if we alone without Isla would have found the couple as they were hidden in a steep-sided gully away from the paths. The couple were then walked back to Seathwaite.

9 team members – 3 hours 53 minutes