Rescued Lake District hikers yet to pay Wasdale Head Inn bill

Volunteers from Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team took seven hours to locate two young men who were lost on Scafell Pike in ‘treacherous winter conditions’.

Cold, wet and hungry, they were offered a bed at the Wasdale Head Inn at a 35 per cent reduced rate and the pub’s manager stayed up to put snacks together for them.

Wasdale MRT members on Scafell Pike during the incident. (Image: Wasdale MRT)

Despite the hospitality shown, the walkers reportedly ‘offered no thanks for the efforts of the hotel,’ asking staff to provide breakfast, further reduce the already subsidised bill and organise transport out of the valley. They have not returned to the Wasdale Head Inn to pay their bill, nor have they transferred the money.

Nick Owen, operations lead at the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association said: “Not everybody that we rescue is terribly grateful, the vast majority are.”

The hikers have failed to respond to appeals from Wasdale MRT to pay their £130 bill and return headtorches provided to them by volunteers during the callout.

Mr Owen said: “It could just be mortal embarrassment. They’ve got themselves into this position and now they just don’t see a way whereby they can say ‘actually that was us and we’re really sorry.’

Wasdale Head Inn, which gave the hikers refuge after they were rescued from Scafell Pike. (Image: Wasdale Head Inn)

“The situation is now pretty deep and it’s going to be a brave person that sticks their head above the parapet now and identifies themselves, the internet hounds will tear them apart for a start.”

The pair also gave false contact details to the bar manager.

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Wasdale MRT has received an outpouring of support since sharing the story, which they say they are ‘bowled over’ by.

After launching a fundraiser to cover the costs of the hikers’ stay, they received more than £5,000 in donations.

The team will use donations to cover the pub’s losses with the remaining funds contributing to its yearly operational costs.

Wasdale MRT members carrying out a rescue on Ill Crag. (Image: Wasdale Mountain Rescue volunteers)

Mr Owen said the story may draw attention to the difficulties the walkers faced on Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain, prompting them to think twice before venturing out on the fells in poor conditions.

He said: “It does no harm in raising awareness of mountain rescue and even the backstory of the circumstances and the wild night, the diabolical weather, the lack of preparedness of the people involved and the fact they needed rescuing in the first place.

“It does no harm from that point of view, just to try and make people a bit more savvy about going out and getting caught out without torches.”

To support Wasdale MRT, a registered charity, visit: www.wmrt.org.uk/donate-to-the-team/