Charity In Practice...

Thousands of people a year tackle the Yorkshire three peaks challenge

With temperatures set to soar this week, thousands of outdoor enthusiasts will head to the hills, with large numbers taking part in charity events.

But with call-outs to rescue teams at record levels, are too many tackling challenges they cannot handle?

On Saturday, The Cave Rescue Organisation (CRO) was called out to six separate incidents.

So far this year the Yorkshire-based group, a voluntary team made up of experienced cavers, climbers and walkers, has been called out 46 times.

In the whole of 2008 the charity dealt with just 50 incidents.

Injured ankles

A blog on its website described this weekend's events as "mid-summer madness".

Its first call was to rescue a sheep, but this was followed by a plea to help a 43-year-old man who had fallen on Whernside taking part in a three peaks challenge and sustained a suspected broken ankle.

The injured man was one of hundreds that day trying to complete the Yorkshire three peaks expedition - a walk of up to 10 hours to climb the mountains Pen-Y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough.

Later on Saturday the CRO rescued a 26-year-old man and a woman, 22, who were also attempting the three peaks.

The same day the CRO helped a mountain biker and searched for a 65-year-old man who was reported to have collapsed.

More than 360 people were on the mountains on Saturday raising money for Macmillan in one of the charity's biggest yearly fundraising events which, it is hoped, will bring in more than £60,000.

But the cancer charity denied any of their walkers needed rescuing and said many different people tackled the trio of peaks every weekend.

Walkers in the Lake District should carry extra water this week

"This year we had 364 walkers and only 26 of these were unable to complete the challenge, which is a low drop out rate," fundraising manager Sarah Teale said.

"Of the 26, five walkers were suffering from heat exhaustion and the others experienced minor injuries such as sprained ankles, knee injuries and blisters.

"No-one needed the assistance of the rescue services and all those who were unable to complete were transported back to base by minibus.

"In the run-up to the event all participants are given extensive preparation advice including a training guide, equipment lists and, of course, the opportunity to talk to me or a member of the team at any point leading up to the event.

When people get into any difficulty, rather than using their initiative and and finding their own way off they call mountain rescue Mountain rescuer Richard Warren

"We had a team of 12 experienced volunteer walkers with us as well as five members of staff and four other volunteers."

Another popular challenge, often done in 24 hours to raise money for charity, involves climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England and Snowdon in Wales - the highest peaks in each country.

Most walkers tackle Scafell Pike second, often in fading light or darkness, and it means many without basic navigation skills struggle to find their way off the mountain.

Richard Warren, chairman of the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association, said too many walkers were still not equipped with a map, compass and torch.

He said people should take plenty of water and cream and wear light clothing this week, with high temperatures predicted.

"The big problem with the [three peaks] challenges now is they have become so popular," he added.

"I think people are tending to take on challenges that perhaps they wouldn't have taken on in the past."

He said there had been a 25% increase in mountain rescue call-outs this year.

"One of the reasons, we believe, is that people are in a risk-averse culture.

"When people get into any difficulty, rather than using their initiative and and finding their own way off they call mountain rescue." Link...