Lake District visitors told to use maps and compasses, not phones

Dozy Lake District visitors have been urged to bring maps and a compass when hitting the mountains - ahead of a summer surge of rescues as many come armed with just with a mobile phone.

One of the 12 Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association (LDSMRA) volunteer units - Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team - has already had 109 calls so far this year, up from an average by July of about 70.

In the whole of 2022 Wasdale MRT only had 125 callouts and rescuers have reminded holidaymakers and walkers that they are all volunteers - giving up their time to help those in need.

And LDSMRA chairman Richard Warren said a lot of calls could be avoided if walkers make sure they have the right kit and check the weather.

Mountain rescue boss Richard Warren said: “Do you have the skills, have you checked the weather and have you got the kit? So many call-outs could be avoided if people just asked themselves those questions!”

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He said about 30 per cent of calls were from people who were lost or missing, adding taking a map and compass was “essential” but many people did not have either.

Mr Warren also said one of the most important things to have is a mobile phone battery back-up, so rescuers could speak to and find lost people.

He also said hikers should have waterproof clothing, food and water and wear “good boots to prevent those lower leg injuries”.

He said people planning a trip should check the Adventure Smart website which stresses: “You don’t need the latest high tech, high performance, painfully expensive jacket to be adventure smart.

“The trick is putting a little bit of thought into what conditions you might meet and packing a bag with just enough to ensure you can cope with whatever the day may bring.

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“Carry a map/chart and compass and know how to use them. Nowadays paper maps may seem unnecessary but they are light to carry and their batteries don’t run out of charge!

“Make sure your mobile is charged… but don’t rely on it for navigation and communication!

“Mobile phones fail if they get soaking and signal coverage is notoriously poor in some areas. Have a waterproof case, charged portable charger or proper waterproof GPS and pack a map and compass as a backup.”

Mr Warren added that there are about 400 mountain rescue volunteers with teams on call 24 hours a day.

And he said: “Trying to get the number of call-outs down is really top of my agenda.” Although he stressed that people should always call for help if they need it.

He said the Lake District was “fantastic”, adding: “To have a lovely day, that’s the main objective.”

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