News
A blast from the past..!
Thu, 09/05/2013 - 23:01
We were recently recontacted by a casualty we rescued back in 2009. The gentleman suffered a very serious leg injury when he ws hit by rockfall in Eassy Gully on Pavey Ark. He was able to report that finally, 4 years later, he had been able to make it up to Easedale Tarn and Styhead Tarn. He had undergone pioneering surgery, and a lengthy rehabilitation.
Great news!!Brian Morgan
Fri, 19/04/2013 - 00:00
Brian was born in Preston in 1948 and first encountered the Lake District as a young boy when his father took him fishing there. Brian volunteered as a mountain rescuer at the age of 18 while serving an apprenticeship with British Aerospace. The quote from their internal paper, ‘Airframe’ states that he’d approached a mentor and told him that he’d “like to do something useful with my spare time”. He joined the South Ribble MRT, which became Bowland Pennine MRT. At that point, I doubt he had ANY idea what he was letting himself in for! Having moved to Ambleside and marrying Miriam in 1974, Brian joined Langdale Ambleside MRT, and had two children Graham and Gill. Brian’s knowledge of the hills became legendary. On one occasion he was able to identify the location of a casualty by the description they provided of the rocks around them. Walking with friends in the hills, he often navigated without a map, from memory alone. Brian’s gregarious personality meant that he was always first to welcome visiting mountain rescue teams, whether they were visiting for social reasons or to assist on a rescue. This approach made him many friends from other teams, in particular from RAF teams. On many weekends, Brian would often catch up with friends and grab an early ascent of a peak before lunch, thereby making himself available for the inevitable rescue in the afternoon. Brian was also keen to extend his enjoyment of the fells to others and would often take out groups for walks in the fells in his spare time. He hosted countless slideshow presentations at the rescue base, and spent many weekends on the team stall with his best mate Dave in Ambleside raising donations for, and promoting, the Langdale Ambleside MRT. Brian was a great proponent of the idiom that if you could make someone laugh, the pain would lessen... and became well known for joking with casualties and gently buoying them up. Rumours that the drugs they’d been given were to lessen the pain of these, often terrible jokes, remain unconfirmed. Brian would often attend nearly every call out, year in, year out, and in 2006, Brian was presented with a long-service award by the Mountain Rescue Association of England and Wales for 40 years outstanding service as a mountain rescue volunteer. Brian attended well in excess of 1500 rescues. Miriam passed away in 2007 and Brian became re-married to Margaret in 2012. Although he retired from the team in 2010, he remained an avid supporter, often stopping to chat and catch up on the latest news. If Brian was a stick of rock, he’d have ‘Mountain Rescue’ written right through him! Brian passed away in hospital in his home town of Preston on 3rd April. He will be missed by many, many people. Nick Owen, Team Leader, Langdale Ambleside MRT, 2005 to present.A welcome visitor
Sat, 06/04/2013 - 17:13
We had a very welcome visitor to our base yesterday by the name of Tom Lister. Tom was 13 when he fell from Jack’s Rake on Pavey Ark last July, sparking a huge rescue operation. Tom’s father said his son looked so badly injured after his fall that he thought he was dead. But the teenager is almost completely recovered from injuries he suffered in the 60m fall. It was great to see him on top form and for him to meet team members who had been involved in his rescue. http://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/2013/04/03/jacks-rake-fall-boy-tom-lis…Two upcoming fundraising events
Wed, 17/10/2012 - 21:59
Mary McCormick is raising funds for LAMRT and Bowland Pennine MRT through a sponsored walk on the ‘Discover Challenge: trek the Himalayas from Pokhara to Kathmandu’.
Mary is 74 years old, a keen walker and loves a challenge. Three years ago she went through surgery to remove half of the left lung due to lung cancer. This makes climbing in the Himalayas a real challenge for her.
She says that she has great admiration for Mountain Rescue teams wherever they are, as she has had experience of being brought down a mountain in France on a skiing accident.
The fact that the MR teams are volunteers is very dear to her heart as she has been a volunteer herself with V.S.O (Voluntary Service Overseas) and knows what a huge commitment volunteering can be.
Please give generously in appreciation of MR teams everywhere, they are worth it.
Donations can be given direct by pressing our Charity Choice button and nominating Mary in the appropriate column. Please choose the gift aid option if you are eligible and we will give half the total sum to BPMRT. http://www.charitychoice.co.uk/langdaleambleside-mountain-rescue-team-1…
If you want to do something that involves getting active yourself, then this might suit you: Proceeds of this event are being split between ourselves and Coniston MRT:
The Big Charity Abseil 2012 on FacebookA poem from rescue 65
Fri, 07/09/2012 - 20:59
BEST DAY OUT ON THE FELLS THIS SUMMER........ Thank you LAMRT For coming out to rescue me. I won't say I enjoyed the ride, But sledging down the mountainside, With a new view of Pike O' Stickle (Which made me feel slightly sick) Was quite an interesting way To end a lovely sunny day. Thanks for the warmth, the jokes, the skill To get me safely off the hill. You got there quickly, thanks again For saving me from stress and pain, But most of all my thanks are due To every single one of you For giving your free time away On such a lovely sunny day!Nights are drawing in...
Tue, 28/08/2012 - 16:36
It might only be the end of August (at the time of writing) but it is much cooler outside, even without the wind and rain, and there's noticably less daylight by 7 pm.. Time to check you've packed those waterproofs and check the batteries in you torch. Of course, we both know they've been in your hill bag all summer 'just in case', but just to be sure...?
The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal
Sat, 16/06/2012 - 10:16
The team is proud to annouce the award of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal to about 25 team membersMike Matchell Memorial Fund (Mike's FUnd)
Mon, 11/06/2012 - 20:20
http://www.cumbriafoundation.org/archives/2585 This fund is aimed primarily at providing small grants to help disadvantaged young people take part in sport or foreign travel. How much can you apply for? • Maximum grant will normally be £500 over one year Who can apply? • Young people between 11 and 21 and organisations working with young people. Applications from individuals should set out how and why a trip will benefit them. This is a means tested grants programme. Applicants’ total household income must be less than £450 per week (excluding all benefits). Mike Machell's fund is earmarked particuarly for mountain sports and mountain travel, so if you know any adventurous young people, please make them aware of the financial help that's available.. Cheers,Trainee search dog, Ted makes grade 2
Mon, 16/04/2012 - 10:09
Ted is now a full SARDA trainee search dog after passing a somewhat belated obedience test and has officially moved from grade 1 to grade 2.Word cloud
Wed, 28/03/2012 - 21:05
We've created a 'word cloud' using a bit of jiggery pokery. It shows the frequency with which words appear in the text of the website incident reports. A little bit of fun!Michael Machell
Sun, 04/03/2012 - 17:57
Following the tragic death of team member, Michael (Mic) Machell, a fund has been established to assist young mountaineers in gaining experience to take them forward.
Although in the early stages of being established, it has already recieved a number of substantial donations from Mike's family, friends and LAMRT colleagues.
For further details, watch this space.
Sad news
Mon, 16/01/2012 - 19:22
Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team was deeply saddened at the news of the death of Michael Machell, one of its former members, in a climbing accident in California on 14 January. He travelled to America to study for a year at Berkely University.
Michael, a former student at the Ambleside campus of the University of Cumbria, was involved with the Team, as a trainee and full member, for three years from 2008 to 2011. He graduated from the University of Cumbria with a first class Honours Degree. He attended approximately one hundred and seventy rescues in that time. His interest in mountain rescue was just one manifestation of his deep love for climbing and the outdoors.
Nick Owen, Team Leader, said “Michael was a great friend, a regular climbing partner, and a committed team member. His youthful energy and boundless enthusiasm was infectious. He will be sadly missed by all current and former team members"
Michael was 23 years old.
Navigation by mobile phone
Fri, 20/05/2011 - 20:50
We have now dealt with a number of incidents where people have become lost using a mobile phone to navigate. These devices may well work if the right mapping is installed, and the instructions have been fully understood, but otherwise risk being worse than useless. They also drain batteries significantly faster than when using the phone only.. BEWARE!! Car sat-navs are equally useless.. The less preparation you make, the more likely you are to spend a cold, miserable, wet night out on the fells!Sad news
Sun, 08/05/2011 - 20:16
We are deeply saddened to report that searchdog Beinn tragically died at the age of 6 years. Handler, Roger and Beinn had attended over 100 callouts in 3 years and had made some fantastic finds, undoubtedly saving the lives of those involved. Beinn will be much missed by the team and our best wishes go out to Beinn's many friends. He will be as much missed foraging for biscuit crumbs around base as he will be out on the hill....Use your brain
Wed, 20/04/2011 - 22:07
This poster is one of three drawn by young people who had made and sold cakes to fundraise for us! It speaks volumes!!Einich and Joy make the grade
Sat, 16/04/2011 - 18:29
Team member, Joy Grindrod and dog Einich have passed their final assessment and are now fully qualified as Search Dog and handler. Congratulations to both.
Sad news
Sat, 19/03/2011 - 13:38
It is with deep sadness that we have to announce that long time team member, Graham Hartley, has died. Graham served as an active team member for many years and then in a pastoral role. He will be very much missed.
Graham's funeral will take place at HolyTrinity Church, Chapel Stile, on Tuesday 29th March
Winter 2011
Tue, 04/01/2011 - 11:46
OK, I give up.. the weather keeps changing, but the message is the same...please remember your basic safety precautions.. map, compass, whistle, survival bag, extra clothes, torch and brain... all the information for a safe day out is readily available.. weather forecasts and sunset times. It's approximately 3 degress C cooler every 1000' climbed, and much colder when you're forced to be imobile.. and there's still a lot of snow and ice around...
MBE for Mo
Tue, 04/01/2011 - 11:44
The team is delighted to announce that long serving team member, Mo Richards has been awarded an MBE for her service to mountain rescue.
Winter has arrived
Fri, 12/11/2010 - 17:04
Winter has arrived good and proper. It's cold, windy and getting dark very early. We've had snow and there's plenty still around. Be prepared. There have been repeated snowfalls and back roads and mountain passes are treacherous.
Book and film now available to buy....
Sun, 03/10/2010 - 17:08
Copies of DVD 'Between the Stones' and our book, 'Light on the Fell' are now available. DVD is £10 and book, £19.95... P&P incl. Send a cheque payable to LAMRT to Langdale/Ambleside MRT, Lowfold, Lake Road, Ambleside, LA22 9HX....The book is a celebration of the last , and first(!), 40 years of the team, with Annual Report snippets, photos and experiences. The DVD is the work of team member, Joy Grindrod, and is two years in the life of the team. It features footage from rescues, training and interviews with team members and casualties.
Autumn is here
Sat, 17/07/2010 - 12:31
Nights are drawing in, and the weather is getting cooler. Time to check the torch batteries (what do you mean "what torch"!?) Put another layer in your bag, put a couple of choclote bars in a pocket for emergencies, and switch brain to winter mode. Colder weather is forecast, and we've already had hailstones and some pretty wild weather....
Prolonged dry spell
Fri, 25/06/2010 - 21:33
We are currenlty enjoying a prolonged dry spell. This is making excellent conditions, but the down-side is that it is also very warm. Take plenty of fluid with you and don't rely on being able to top drinks from natural water sources..they're drying up. Sun hat and sunscreen will also prove useful. Finally..watch out for thunder and lightning! Also worth noting that many of the lakes are becoming a hazard to dogs, due to blue/green algae blooms (Cyanobacteria). Watch for warning sign and don't let your dog swim in or drink the water. It can be fatal!
Film Premier
Thu, 10/06/2010 - 11:58
The first Ambleside Mountain Festival will include the premier of the Team's new film 'Between The Stones'. Up-to-date information about the festival can be found at http://www.amblesideoutdoorfestival.co.uk or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ambleside-Outdoor-Festival/119350014766684?ref=ts
More details of the film can be found at http://www.zeffirellis.com/cinema/film/mountain-rescue-film-public-premier
New website for the team
Sat, 01/05/2010 - 06:58
After much hard work by a great bunch of volunteers the team's new website has been launched. Linked with our Facebook page, we hope to keep you even more up-to-date than before, with faster access to photos, more news, and opportunities to comment.
We've kept the old site alive - it's at http://old.lamrt.org.uk. If we've missed anything in the move to the new site, then let us know. We haven't got all the past incidents into this site yet, but it'll happen!
Summer is taking over
Sun, 18/04/2010 - 22:38
Summer conditions are finally succeeding over the prolonged winter we enjoyed. Despite this, please remember that you still need a map, compass, torch, whistle, waterproofs and spare warm clothes. Temperatures are still dropping to 6 or 7 degrees Celcius when the sun goes in and the wind picks up.
Winter Conditions
Sun, 17/01/2010 - 01:50
Prolonged winter conditions experienced so far this year have been rare in recent years, however the message is the same as always.
Be prepared. Experience, appropriate equipment, and sound judgement are crucial. Ice axe, crampons, warm clothing and reliable torches are vital in current conditions.
Remember as well, soft snow is exhausting to walk in, frozen snow is very slippery.
Kirkstone Pass
Sun, 10/01/2010 - 10:33
The road is still impassable, but despite this a number of vehicles are continuing to try to cross.
Flooding
Sat, 21/11/2009 - 23:00
Access continues to be difficult to some areas, with floodwater still present and extensive damage to many road surfaces and edges. The cleanup will take some considerable time.
The Ambulance Service will be resident in our base for some time, while their own station is dried out and repaired.
The rainfall has been described as 'one in a millennium' event, which, given it's only 4 years since we suffered a 'one in 100 years' event is a bit of a worry! It would have helped considerably if people took notice of 'road closed' signs and didn't continue to drive into deep water without thinking through the consequences! Even the flashest four wheel drive is still a car, not a boat. Boats tend to be pointy at the front, are waterproof underneath, and don't have doors that open below the waterline.
