Warning as more walkers opt for dangerous Lake District fell route

Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team (WMRT) said for an 'unknown reason' walkers are 'suddenly' taking a more hazardous route at Piers Gill  - down the gill bed (stream bed) from the corridor route on descent from Scafell Pike.

Piers Gill is a deep cut gill which the corridor route crosses and is extremely hazardous because it comprises of a series of waterfall climbing pitches.

On its Facebook page, the team went on to name four recent serious events:

• August 20, 2023: Two walkers spent 24 hours in the gill before alerting a passing walker. Both were cold with minor injuries.
• February 4, 2024: Lone walker reported overdue. Evacuated after about 6 hours in the gill with multiple scrapes and bruises.
• February 29, 2024: Lone walker reported overdue. Evacuated after about 24 hours in the gill, with injuries to both feet/ankles.
• March 1 2024: Lone walker reported overdue. Evacuated after about 12 hours in the gill, serious injuries and hypothermia.

Piers Gill's series of waterfall climbing pitches can only be safely attempted by rope access. 

Rescuers say it can be tempting to believe that the one the first one descended is the worst, but they get progressively harder.

It then becomes difficult or impossible to climb back up resulting in a ‘trap’ where either people become stuck, or they risk taking the next descent - thinking it is the last one.

Eventually, people either fall, resulting in traumatic injuries, or become stuck with increasing hypothermia risk.

It is also a hazardous location for rescuers because of the steep sides and loose rocks.

Due to its instability, there is always a risk of rockfalls, even with a technically perfect rope system.

The WMRT Facebook post went on to read: "The relevant authorities are reacting and considering what additional things they can do to prevent people accidentally straying into the top of the gill, which, at the top, looks fairly benign.

"The only path down is on the east rim of the gill and even that goes very close to the edge and has a rock step.

"Our responsibility is only for search and rescue, not prevention. We also need help to raise awareness outside of this ‘following’.

"Good navigation and awareness is needed, and none of the walkers in the events above intended to be where they were found.

"We realise that, to a large extent, we don’t need to remind the followers of this page, but we do need to reach others who come to enjoy the mountains and are not seasoned walkers.

"As well as the well-prepared walkers, we see many people on Scafell Pike unaware of the very real hazards."