A Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team Land Rover above Ullswater

Cold and lost walkers at Grisedale Tarn

A team vehicle above Ullswater. A general photograph — not taken at this callout.

Callout 23

Date

Mon 16 March 2026

Duration

2½ hours

Location

Grisedale Tarn

Whilst Patterdale Mountain Rescue were preparing to depart to a rescue on Birks fell a second call was received via Cumbria Police requesting assistance for a couple walking above Grisedale Tarn towards the summit at Dollywaggon Pike. The weather in the morning had been clear and dry however it was now freezing cold driven rain and the couple were becoming cold and disorientated in the cloud.

After an initial conversation with the Duty Leader there location was established and it was agreed that they would follow the path to the Tarn which was now visible before heading down towards Grisedale. This allowed the casualties to keep warm whilst walking along a single path to ensure they didn’t get lost. Simultaneously two team members were deployed to walk up the valley to ensure they were safe and to assist them back to the Patterdale MR base.

Once at the base they were given chance to thaw out before arranging a lift back to their car.

The callout in numbers

4

Team members

Hours on the hill

23

Callout of the year

Other agencies

Cumbria Police.

With thanks to Cumbria Police.

Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team

Support the team

Every callout is answered by volunteers, and paid for by the public.

The team receives no government funding. Every rope, radio and Land Rover is bought with money the public gives us.