MRT training day with RAF Rescue, 28th November 2009

A couple of months ago I passed the assessment to join the local Mountain Rescue Team.

I've been deliberately not posting stuff about life in the local MRT largely because it's not that great a read, hearing me prattle on about Casualty Assessment and Evacuation training, Incident Management and Search and Tracking techniques.

However, today was different.

We had arranged for Crab Air (that's the RAF, aka the Royal Air Farce - apologies Ginger!) to lend us one of their SeaKing SAR helicopters in order to practice deployment and retrieval drills. We were to be dropped in various locations all over the Catterick Training area and would deploy via the winch.

As usual, Saturdays are not good days for the RAF and we had to tear them away from their dry martinis to come to our gig. However, they got their wires crossed, couldn't make the morning start and arrived at 14:00hrs. Their dress code was very disappointing; not a cravat in sight, no leather helmets and no sign of Brylcreme any where.

How things have changed since Ginger left.

No, these guys were full on SAR professionals, complete with goretex, Scarpa boots, shaved heads and really friendly. But these were the winchmen - the piloty types sported the obligatory '70s 'tache and quiff and greeted us all with a smile and a 'AY-HAY-LAY...'

I was in good hands then.

We were shown round the 'air asset' and Russ the winchman gave us a real insight into how well qualified these guys are, even remembering that there was no sugar in my coffee.

We split into teams of 5, with one poor unfortunate being given the task of being the casualty and who would be suitably 'casualty packed' for the homeward journey.

When our turn came, even after the excellent briefing, it was a surprise to feel the full force of the 'air assets' down draft as we clambered aboard, desperately trying not to bump their drinks cabinet. Once we were seated and strapped in, the pilot took off and meandered his way across the training ground to find a suitable deployment spot.

Bringing us to a hover, the trolley dolly came over to me with a winch sling and after I was safely in it, was ushered to the exit. A quick winch down and I then gathered up the teams rucksacks and found a sheltered spot about 30m away - even there the winds took your breath.

We packed up our casualty in a vacuum mat and summoned our ride. 5 mins later Crabair arrived and we all got loaded up in the semi darkness and flew back to the RV point.

Excellent day.

The RAF boys were truly excellent; they shared a lot of info, gave us their contact details, allayed a few myths (you CAN keep your head torches on when they come to you at night) and more fascinatingly for me, never got lost once.

If anyone fancies a shot at joining MRT, give me a shout and similarly, if you fancy being a casualty for SAR exercises that would be good too.

Davie

Scafell Pike, 7th November 2009

Our original plan today was going to be an assault on the highest mountain in England, visiting Sca Fell and Great End en-route supporting Steve’s campaign to bag the Lake District top ten before Christmas. Problem was; Steve couldn’t make it due to work commitments! Getting all three done was a tall order, no doubt ending with a night time descent, and a review of the weather meant a change of plan was in order anyway.
Along for the trip was Rich M, John, Phil, Davie and Rich S.
We toyed with the idea of Pavey Ark with a scramble up Jack’s Rake or Sca Fell via Lord’s Rake but the weather wasn’t going to be on our side. We decided to trot up Scafell Pike as Mad Dog hadn’t been to the summit since he was sixteen and we chose the Corridor Route as Dicko had been this way on the Three Peak Challenge but had not seen anything as we completed the route in the dark.



The weather was pants, we had water proofs on from the outset and lunch was under Davie’s shelter at Sty Head Tarn. Surveying the route to Scafell we could see the snow line and periodic glimpses of blue sky so got out of out protective cover and got stuck in to the job in hand.
Davie had started the day suffering with an ear infection and by the time we reached the break in the Corridor Route that follows the scree to the summit he was looking worse for wear and was struggling. We pushed on for another 15 minutes but infection, antibiotics, painkillers, altitude and exertion don’t mix well. After a brief discussion Davie elected to descend and the rest of us pushed on.




We reached the summit and after a couple of photo’s started down to get out of the cold wind.



As we turned it seemed the whole of Cumbria had decided to brave the weather and head for Scafell Pike. After fighting our way through the masses, including some bloke that had brought a dog the size of a guinea pig, we stopped out of the wind for a break before heading down.




The weather was much better as we escaped the cloud and we had great views on our descent. We arrived back at the car with daylight fading after another great day in the Lakes.