AMBLESIDE & DISTRICT U3A: HIGH FELLS and SCRAMBLES
Notes to Group Members
INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES
DECIDING TO TAKE PART
- Group members and guests participate at their own risk. If you bring a guest make sure that they are fully aware of this and that they accept all the responsibilities within this document.
- We assume that you are a fairly experienced fell walker and that you are confident that the proposed route is well within your physical capabilities - even if the weather deteriorates.
- You should be capable of finding your own way - this may be necessary in an emergency. Prepare as you would if you were going out on your own.
- Major scrambles can usually be avoided if this is desired (ask the co-ordinator) and sometimes some people take a shorter route by prior agreement with the co-ordinator. Grade 3 scrambles will only be undertaken with a rope operated by an experienced person using harnesses which can be loaned.
- You should be properly equipped, e.g. suitable footwear, waterproof jacket and trousers, gloves, hat, a reserve of warm clothing, water, food + reserve, survival bag, whistle, compass, map, torch + spare batteries and first aid kit; poles and instep crampons if needed for winter conditions. Full crampons and an ice axe may be necessary in some conditions. A hot drink is recommended in winter. If you have one, a GPS + spare batteries.
- We keep to the beaten track as far as possible. If tracks are in really poor condition, as many are, a very wide detour is often the best option. We often go over ground without tracks or paths.
- No one in the group has the training or skills as a leader or training in first aid. The group co-ordinator, contact people and the day co-ordinator are not, in any legal sense, the walk ‘leader’; like other members of the group, they are not legally responsible for any other member or guest. In an emergency we will simply help as best we can.
- Dogs are welcome so long as they are guaranteed not to cause problems with other people, farm animals, wildlife etc. Note that some routes are inaccessible to dogs.
BEFORE THE WALK
- You should always contact the group co-ordinator, or the contact for your car-sharing group, before 7:00 pm on the evening before the walk. This is necessary to confirm the meeting point and time, so that we know who to expect, and to share cars when possible.
ON THE DAY
- i) You have complete responsibility for our own safety.
- ii) You agree to these responsibilities and respect the day co-ordinator’s requests to the group.
- iii) The day should begin by checking the route on your own map, and raising any queries about any aspect of the day. You should tell us if you wish to avoid scrambles or shorten your route.
- iv) If you carry a mobile phone, make sure that it is switched on, the battery charged up, everyone knows your number and that you know theirs and have entered them into your phone. Also enter family contacts etc in your contact list so that emergency workers can contact them if the need arises. See http://www.ice4safety.com/unstd.html
- v) You are responsible for keeping in contact with the group at all times, not taking risks and alerting others if a problem does occur. If you need to stop for any reason whatsoever, let at least one person in the group know and ask them to tell the others so that the group can react appropriately. This is especially important if you feel unwell - don’t just press on as the result may be worse for everyone!
- vi) If you happen to be in the lead, make frequent checks to ensure that (a) you are on the agreed route and (b) there are no stragglers. This is especially important in poor visibility.
- vii) Occasionally we deviate from the planned route – make sure that you understand any changes.
- viii) If, for any reason, you wish to take some alternative route, you should first inform at least 2 other members of the group and ask them to tell the others. If you intend to meet up again with the main party make arrangements that are absolutely clear to all members of the group, including a contingency rendezvous. Failure to meet as agreed can have serious consequences for others as well as yourself.
- ix) If you should accidentally lose contact with the group, the group will attempt to re-establish contact and, if necessary, alert the mountain rescue team. However, if you have gone too far ahead and the group goes a different way, you are deemed to be on your own by choice.
- x) Keep close together in areas of loose rock, particularly in gills, and never, under any circumstances, move into a position where dislodging a loose rock could have serious consequences for those below. If necessary split into several smaller parties to complete a risky section and wait until the party in front has completed it before commencing.
- xi) Given our age and the reduced endurance/energy reserves for coping with adversity, take particular care especially on screes, rocky, icy or slippery ground and keep away from cliff edges in strong winds.
YOUR PARTICIPATION MEANS THAT YOU AGREE TO THESE CONDITIONS
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Introduction for New Members
We are a relatively small group within the Ambleside & District U3A, currently we have 12 core members who attend most walks.
We are delighted to welcome new members. However, you must be fit enough, be capable of finding your own way (even in the worst weather) and accept our conditions entitled ‘individual responsibilities’ which are set out above.
The safety of the group depends on all members being reasonably fit and having appropriate equipment. Please make sure that you have completed high fells walks recently.
You should be able to maintain a steady continuous pace on steep uphill sections, a brisk pace on the level for several miles, cope with rough terrain and adverse weather.
If you have any doubts about your present state of fitness and fell walking capabilities, complete the easy walk from Thirlspot to Helvellyn peak, or another of your choosing, and tell us your time. We encourage you to come on the B social walks and have a chat with us. People soon get cold if they have to wait for others.
We walk every Thursday all over the Lake District including at least one peak over 2000 feet above sea level, sometimes including a scramble, lasting most of the day and end the outing in a pub.
The ’classics’ are to be included every year. We will try to include all peaks over 2000 feet every 2 to 3 years.
We may have short scrambles on the 3rd Tuesday in the months of April to September inclusive and/or at other times by arrangement, providing at least one experienced person is available.
The group is administered by a group co-ordinator and we have additional contacts whose names and telephone numbers are published in the U3A Newsletter. The ‘day co-ordinator’ sets the route and organises the group on the day. Members are invited to do this role for a particular walk - just contact the group co-ordinator.
We normally walk whatever the weather – the forecasts are often wrong and we usually get a good view sometime during a walk. We may change the route in gale force winds.
A typical Thursday ………..
- - commences with a meet at 9.00 am in Grasmere* or a more appropriate place, so that we can take the minimum number of cars to the starting point and/or notify you of changes in arrangements. We will try to collect people without their own transport.
- - the first part of the route is typically a 2 hour ascent, followed by ridge walking
- - we usually stop for a banana/coffee break and again for lunch
- - we try to use ‘interesting’ routes and sometimes go over rough terrain or areas without paths.
- - the duration of the walk is usually 4 to 6 hours in winter and 5 to 9 hours in summer. The newsletter gives the outline of the route, the approximate distance and the height of ascent (we publish a more detailed itinerary giving past times etc. for members of the group)
- - finishes with a visit to a pub (alcohol is optional!) and drive home; occasionally we stay for an evening meal
- - the total time commitment is the time to get to the meeting point, car journeys, the walk itself and the time spent in the pub making future arrangements; if you do have to get back for a prior appointment do bear this in mind if you offer/accept a lift
* Grasmere meeting point: lay-by on the left of the A591 going North after the Swan Hotel, Ref: NY337085.
Always check the arrangements on the evening before the walk by telephoning the co-ordinator or one of the contacts shown in the Newsletter by 7:00 pm the evening before for the latest arrangements and for car sharing.
If a Thursday route includes a scramble, these are often avoidable, but some aren’t (ask the co-ordinator). Well-behaved dogs kept under control are allowed but some routes are inaccessible.
If you have a mobile phone, give other walkers your number and obtain their numbers. Be aware that coverage is very patchy in the Lakes and that there is a good chance you won’t get a signal when you need one!
Occasionally we have social gatherings, including partners, where we meet for a meal or have a presentation about a trek – suggestions are welcomed!
Welcome to the group and enjoy days out with us!
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EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
One cannot have prescriptive rules as circumstances and conditions can vary so much - consider these guidelines.
The day co-ordinator is the de facto leader unless agreed otherwise by the group.
Accident
In the event of an accident:
- The most competent person should administer first aid.
- The leader must decide whether it is possible to help the casualty down, and this is probably the best course provided it can be done without risking the welfare and safety either of the casualty or of other members of the group.
- Should the medical risk be considered too great, call mountain rescue – they can call the RAF rescue helicopter if appropriate.
If you can get a mobile phone signal, ring 999 or 112, ask for Police, and only when you are put through to them ask for Mountain Rescue.
Only ask for an Ambulance if you are near a public highway. Report the facts and give your grid reference and descriptive location.
Mobile phones will find any available network for 999, even if no credit.
However if your network has no coverage they cannot call you back. If you need to speak to them again use 999.
- Some people must stay with the casualty to keep him or her warm and render first aid, while the rest go down (see above).
Remember that it may take several hours for help to arrive.
- If there is no mobile phone service, a team of at least two people must go for help. Ensure that there is an agreed plan and that the team note down the grid reference of the incident.
They should if possible take a mobile phone and keep trying it in case reception improves. If it doesn't, they will need coins for a public telephone. It may be best to head for the nearest road and ask for help.
- People not involved in the search should go down off the fells without further delay, staying together as a group under a chosen sub-leader.
Some of the group may be cold, tired or distressed.
This group should have the map reference of the last known position, mobile phone nos of those left, an agreed route, plan of action and rendezvous.
Person Missing
If a member of the group goes missing the remaining members of the party should gather together and agree a plan.
The following suggestions are offered for bad visibility:
- If the missing person has a mobile - phone them.
- Search the local area – at least 2 people per party search in an agreed direction(s) for just 5 minutes from the original gathering point and then return to that point.
- When everyone has returned and the person has not been found the group should agree the next steps which could be:
- mount another search
- abandon the planned walk and get the rest of the group off the fells
- decide whether to call out mountain rescue or to put them on alert (see above).
- Unless there are special circumstances it is not advisable for ordinary walkers to undertake an extensive search in bad visibility or darkness. This should be left to mountain rescue teams, who have all the necessary skills, special equipment and backup.
- If a search party is to be mounted from within the group it should
- contain at least 2 fit people
- take equipment if available: mobile phone, torches, GPS, first aid kit, whistle, survival shelter, spare clothing, hot drinks and food.
- People not involved in the search should go down off the fells without further delay – see above for recommended actions.
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