accident on blencathra

[sample_city]

went up blencathra (again!) today, with me mate flosss, anyhows, just starting sharp edge (in wet conditions and a 50mph cross wind!) when penrith & keswick mountain rescue (all voulenteers) came from the summit down foule crag thed been helicoptered to the summit, a woman had fell 30ft off the edge, must have just happend about 30min before we got there and we were the next people on the ridge, we hung around for a bit then turned back and went up the other path to the summit

pic 1 looking up at sharp edge
pic 2 mountain rescue on the scene
pic 3 if you look in the lower right, you can just see a orange helmet of one of the mountain resue team, this is where the woman fell to
pic 4 the sea king helicopter
pic 5 from the path on the other side of scales tarn (about 1 1/2 hrs later), with the sea king lifting her

 

[Jiglo]

That's a pretty hairy looking ridge for traversing in high winds

I've nearly shit bricks clinging on for dear life on the narrow ridge near the top of Snowdon a couple of times when more sensible walkers turn back near the bottom. It doesn't feel too clever when you're on all fours wondering if you're going to get blown off:|

 

[steved]

Been along Sharp Edge a few times and in wet/ice/high wind it can be very demanding. I can see it getting even more difficult as it gets more eroded.
Not sure how well prepared that person was. But on Sunday a couple were lost on Scawfell Pike/Scawfell overnight in motor bike leathers! They had parked up and decided to go for a walk. All of the lakes mountain rescue teams were looking for them. Crazy!!!
I was on Swirl How(Coniston) last week in the middle of a Lighting storm Very Hairy! But at the bottom of the mountain it was clear! The weather can turn at any moment. So go prepared!
For the record if you want to go up Blencathra go by Halls Fell as Wainwright says "the finest ascent in lakeland"