5/37:8/8/05 (5.55 p.m.) - Monday

The police called the team out to a male walker who was reported to be injured on Scafell.  The accident was reported by passing walkers who had heard the shouts for help and whistles.  He along with another three or four walkers were descending or ascending west wall traverse by the unstable pillar when there was a rock fall with rocks giving a glancing blow to one of the walkers but also leaving him stuck on a ledge.  Some climbers nearby managed to rope him down just as the team arrived at the foot of Lords Rake.  Once he was safely down at the Woolworth boulder the team were stood down and returned to base. Approximately 20 team members were on the fell and the incident was closed at around 8.30 pm.  Interestingly a series of new photographs were taken of the unstable area the day before this incident and one of the photos shows the area where the rockfall occurred.  The climbers apparently used the 'unstable' pillar to belay the walker as he was roped back down the rake.  The pillar is badly fractured and is not suitable for belaying. 

It is worth visiting the photographic gallery of the Lords Rake accident blackspot

The following photos were taken after the incident was closed to show the beautiful summers evening and the rehydration that took place at Brackenclose kindly supplied by Howard Christie, Owner of the Wasdale Head Hotel who came down and dropped off a flagon of his best bitter.

Back up team on standby whilst the status of the walkers is confirmed as safely down.

Cheers Howard

The team regroup back at the vehicles - the advance group got as far as the Woolworth Boulder just below Lords rake

The start of Lords rake - completely banked out with loose rock - the following three photos were taken 24 hours before this incident.

Top of the Rake just below the pillar

Beating a hasty retreat - the unstable wall and upper path to West wall Traverse is just above these two ladies.  There is still a large quantity of very loose rock ready to fall and up to the time of writing I have not been back to re photo and see what the damage is - needless to say you venture at your peril and not a place to be knocking boulders.  Once you are out of the rake the path up West Wall Traverse is OK but still an exposed path which requires care.