Helvellyn deaths

[itchybeard]

So again, there is another unfortunate incident of a climber falling to their death, again on Helvellyn. Why is this?

I have been up there once, 7-8 years ago, it was a clear day and I did the popular route overs striding edge, down Swirral.
As I can recall, going down Swirral is tricky, Striding itself was not too bad as it can be tackled from walking on the top or if that is too screamish along the side.
Can it be the walkers are inexperienced as they go to the lakes once every few years, or unavoidable due to triping over small stone at the wrong point...

Either way, its is unfortunate and quite an occurrence it seems.

 

[classic33]

Too many go out these days with the expectation that should things go wrong, help is only a mobile call away.

Years ago, turned back a group of cubs headed for the summit of Snowdon Having just come down it, with full waterproofs. What they and their leaders were wearing wasn't suitable for where they were, let alone the summit. ADC Cubs in the group I was with helped matters.

 

[Tim Hall]

Excpet today's fatality wasn't a climber falling, it was a heart attack, according to the local paper. Even the BBC report said:

The man, who was in his 50s, collapsed on Swirral Edge leading up to the summit of Helvellyn at 10:30 BST on Saturday.

 

[Profpointy]

So again, there is another unfortunate incident of a climber falling to their death, again on Helvellyn. Why is this?

I have been up there once, 7-8 years ago, it was a clear day and I did the popular route overs striding edge, down Swirral.
As I can recall, going down Swirral is tricky, Striding itself was not too bad as it can be tackled from walking on the top or if that is too screamish along the side.
Can it be the walkers are inexperienced as they go to the lakes once every few years, or unavoidable due to triping over small stone at the wrong point...

Either way, its is unfortunate and quite an occurrence it seems.

whilst this incident is of course sad, are you somehow implying "something should be done" or making some criticism of the victims ?

Not trying to be pooey, but not sure what point you are making.

 

[classic33]

From the point of view of someone who has had to go out after someone has got lost, and then relied on their trusty mobile to get them out of trouble.
Far too many go out ill equipped for where they are going. Shorts and sandals are not the best walking wear in mid November.

 

[ufkacbln]

Heart attacks are often unpredictable and sudden

At least a dozen people have died from Heart attacks in the last year whilst playing football, far mor than whilst hillwalking

 

[Tim Hall]

From the point of view of someone who has had to go out after someone has got lost, and then relied on their trusty mobile to get them out of trouble.
Far too many go out ill equipped for where they are going. Shorts and sandals are not the best walking wear in mid November.

None of which seem to be the case in today's incident. Have you got some more information?

 

[classic33]

None of which seem to be the case in today's incident. Have you got some more information?

It was a general reply not aimed at the incident mentioned.

 

[Brains]

It's about perception.

What we were all dressed in 30-40 years ago to go up Helvelyn or Snowdon as Scouts or whatever was, to a man (or boy) Army Surplus gear, and the reason it was surplus, is it had been made in the 1930's and 1940's or if you were lucky 1950's and was of no use to the current military forces.

Leather 'para' boots, no one expected them to be waterproof
Long woollen socks, that you pulled up over your knees
Green trousers that whilst indestructible, acted as a sponge
Woolly jumpers, in green or blue, with the patches on the shoulders
and the para waterproof, that was not, or the parka, which used to get very heavy when wet
And of course the standard knapsack with leather straps

There were a lot fewer helicopters, and of course no mobiles, and if you got into trouble you did a self rescue where possible. I remember in the late 1980's being involved it getting people (dressed in Jeans and denim jackets) off Kinder Scout in appalling weather.

The main reason the Mountain Rescue teams are getting more call outs, and therefore recording the event is the mobile phone.
Every team will tell you multiple stories of people calling for help due to blisters, tiredness, not feeling well, etc. etc.

I also have a number of those silly stories, last year, leading a team of expediences Explorer Scouts up the Crib Goch ridge, we came upon a crag fast girl, about 7 years old, and her parents. we had rope, the manpower, and the skills, to talk her across the ridge. Why were they there ? Just followed others up the path, which means I think as we have a mobile, if it all goes wrong, I'll just call up a chopper

 

[vernon]

Not trying to be pooey, but not sure what point you are making.

That the height should be reduced and a cafe put on top?

 

[Profpointy]

That the height should be reduced and a cafe put on top?

maybe helmets?

 

[Crackle]

It's about perception.

What we were all dressed in 30-40 years ago to go up Helvelyn or Snowdon as Scouts or whatever was, to a man (or boy) Army Surplus gear, and the reason it was surplus, is it had been made in the 1930's and 1940's or if you were lucky 1950's and was of no use to the current military forces.

Leather 'para' boots, no one expected them to be waterproof
Long woollen socks, that you pulled up over your knees
Green trousers that whilst indestructible, acted as a sponge
Woolly jumpers, in green or blue, with the patches on the shoulders
and the para waterproof, that was not, or the parka, which used to get very heavy when wet
And of course the standard knapsack with leather straps

There were a lot fewer helicopters, and of course no mobiles, and if you got into trouble you did a self rescue where possible. I remember in the late 1980's being involved it getting people (dressed in Jeans and denim jackets) off Kinder Scout in appalling weather.

The main reason the Mountain Rescue teams are getting more call outs, and therefore recording the event is the mobile phone.
Every team will tell you multiple stories of people calling for help due to blisters, tiredness, not feeling well, etc. etc.

I also have a number of those silly stories, last year, leading a team of expediences Explorer Scouts up the Crib Goch ridge, we came upon a crag fast girl, about 7 years old, and her parents. we had rope, the manpower, and the skills, to talk her across the ridge. Why were they there ? Just followed others up the path, which means I think as we have a mobile, if it all goes wrong, I'll just call up a chopper

Absolutely, he says, referring to his 1950 mountaineering manual and how to nail your army boots whilst wearing woolen mittens.

 

[pawl]

None of which seem to be the case in today's incident. Have you got some more information?

I was walking on Snowden some years ago. Two young ladies came by me wearing flip flops shorts and tee shirts carrying a Harrods bag..Some incedents you can't legislate for which was more likely the case in this incedent.
In the case of the two young ladies I was tempted to congratulate them on there long walk from London.
Britains mountains my look benign but in adverse weather conditions are as dangerous as any in the world .

 

[Bobby Mhor]

I climbed(walked) Helvellyn in August on a wet day from the Swirls car park area..
There is literally a stone staircase to where it levels out north of the summit..
the mist was down and the stones were wet and very slippy on the ascent,
I would not have liked to descended the same route, they had fortunately dried on my return...
wrong footwear and it would have been dangerous.
I stopped ask one bloke who obviously had trouble descending at the steep bit if he was okay....

 

[Hyslop]

I once came across a loon trying to navigate his way across the fells by means of one of the "coffee table"Wainwrights.Intending to meet his friend on Walla Crag,blissfully unaware that he in fact was sitting directly across the valley on Coledale Hause.As I pointed out his error,he got a bit annoyed with me,so I pointed things out again and left him retracing his steps and shouting into the wind.Who knows,he may still be up there,his bones bleached white,clutching his library book.Barmy.