Gateshead, UK – Mountain rescue teams were called to help a group of 23 students who got stuck on steep ground in Ennerdale on Sunday night.
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It was the second time in two years that rescuers were called out to help the students, from Gateshead Talmudical College, who were spotted by a warden at the Black Sail hostel in Ennerdale.
He called police and mountain rescue crews at 10.25pm when he noticed a row of lights, some of which were flashing a distress signal at Looking Stead.
It took 13 members of Cockermouth MRT and 10 members of Wasdale MRT more than five hours to bring the walkers – aged between 14 and 23 – down to safety.
Steve Brailey, of Cockermouth Mountain Rescue, said: “It’s a night I don’t think any of us will ever forget – we got back to base at about 4am.
“It was interesting, trying to guide 23 people in the dark, especially as they didn’t all have torches and were at varying levels of fitness by then.”
The students were on an unofficial day trip to the Lakes, when they got lost on a descent from Kirk Fell.
According to Mike Park of the Cockermouth team, some were wearing only t-shirts and trainers. It was misty, wet and dark, yet some of the walkers did not have torches. Some were showing early signs of hypothermia.
He said it was only a matter of luck that no-one was seriously injured. The group was from a religious college in north-east England.
The group got lost while descending from Kirk Fell and ended up on steep and dangerous ground half way down Looking Stead. The safest descent route from the area is the bridleway down from the Black Sail Pass.
The rescue was described as ‘interesting’ as the teams guided 23 people, of differing fitness levels and some without torches, across the mountainside to safety.
They were taken to the Black Sail youth hostel and then driven by rescuers to their vehicle futher down the valley at Bowness Knott.
The leader of the group was also involved in the rescue last year in which the group of walkers was described as ‘clueless’ when they called for help after spending more than 18 hours on the Eskdale fells in a thunderstorm. At the time, Wasdale MRT leader Julian Carradice told grough: “They think mountain rescue is on standby for them. The Cairngorm team has had problems with them too.”
Mountain rescue teams in Britain, who are volunteers who turn out at any time, are coming under increasing pressure as the number of callouts increases, mainly due to inexperienced fellwalkers becoming lost. Cockermouth team members returned to their base at 4am
They were given warm clothes and food by mountain rescue staff, who drove them back to their bus at Bowness Knott.
Mountain rescuers have criticised the leader of the hiking group for leaving the 23 people stranded to deal with rain, mist and darkness, stuck on a steep ground attempting to climb down the 2,057ft peak.
These types of stories seem to be becoming the norm. One might not expect great common sense from bochurim of that age (who are not typically the “outdoors” types and not experienced hikers/climbers). But what do the rabbonim and administrators of these yeshivot and kollels use for brains when they allow such trips to go out without adequate equipment and leadership.
V’nishmartem meod le’nafshoseichem
This is why you need to learn other skills besides Gemara – also physical education classes are important.
when it was a girl we searched for in our area, we broke out in song….
“chasdei hashem kee loi samnu kee loi chalu rachamov”
why cant we just have that attitude here. stop judging the whole world and judge yourself.
People criticising these bochurim are being extremely harsh. People get lost on these mountains every day of the year; some experienced climbers, some not so experienced, its just the way it is. When they say ‘the same group of students’ what they really mean is ‘more of these jews’ – you think it was the actual same guys??? How hypocritical are the people on here who are saying that all the yeshiva cares about is learning gemara and then criticising these guys who actually took some time off and went on a hike?!! Just another example of people looking to attack good frum jews.
i went to Gateshead Yeshiva and can tell you that the bochrim get plenty of excersize.Due you know how much effore it takes to carry the gemorah or mforshim from the back of the beis to the front to make sure your Rebbi sees you learning? and how about thise 3 floors from the downsatirs to the bais 4 times a day?BTW,do you that walking round the park(which is half a mile away,Windemere Park) is banned because there might be yiddishe seminary besulos also walking there?Do you know that to parctice self control they have diffrent hours for boys and girls at the only kosher shop in Gateshead?Im sure the black suits fit in well at night for the Rangers to see them.And youre wrong,there is total hashgacha on those trips,mostly by inexperienced and over confidant metzuyanim.The Yeshiva world has to learn that veshmartem es nafshoisechem has more to do with looking at some thing unzniut and m
ore with not being overweight,doing exsersize and keeping healthy.Look at most Roshei Yeshivas i guarantee you that a higher percentage is well overfed.
but hey,The yeshiva is a great place if u want to learn.It’s in such a far off place you coudnt do an avaira if you tried
The Yeshivos are closed, any bochurim who went were probably local lads plus their friends who are staying with them over the holidays, absolutely nothing to do with the yeshiva administration; who will probably not be pleased at having their name dragged into this! The volunteer rescue teams should really start charging for rescues of people who climb unprepared.
I’m glad the kids were alright. All praise to the S&R teams who got them back in one piece. But I can understand the anger and frustration. These boys went out without proper equipment, guides or land navigation skills, no training, no experience and no conditioning. They could be excused the first time for ignorance. But after that it’s sheer foolishness.
Five times in four years? What is wrong with them? They’re obviously capable of learning. Why can’t they learn from experience or at exercise a little bit of common sense?
The yeshivot would be well-advised to include physical education and instruction in lifetime exercise activities in the curriculum. Not only would the students live longer, but it’s well-known that regular vigorous exercise improves the ability to learn.
It’s great that these boys want to get exercise and fresh air. It’s a problem, however, to go hiking in remote areas without the proper skills and gear and without hiring a trained guide. I strongly recommend that all yeshivot set up boy scout type programs with regular supervised camping and hiking trips and where some real skills and self-reliance are learned. There also should be girl scout programs for the girls.
Shomer Pesuyim Hasem. On the other hand, this is beginning to rise beyond the level of foolishness in to the category of insanity. This mountian sounds too challenging for Bnei Yaacov. Get some sechel please.