MOUNTAIN rescuers were called to upper Teesdale after a group of off-road adventurers became trapped overnight in treacherous conditions.
The group of eight, including a 12-year-old and an adult with a medical condition, were travelling in a convoy of four 4×4 vehicles on the fells between Langdon Beck and Alston, near Coldberry, on Saturday.
The two rear vehicles became separated from the leading two and the four occupants then got out and walked to find them.
All eight then spent Saturday night in the two lead 4x4s, unable to get a phone signal to call for help due to the high winds and blizzard conditions.
Eventually, as the conditions eased, they contacted police who in turn called out volunteers from the Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue team at about 8.30am on Sunday.
With the help of a tractor snow plough which was out trying to keep the road open, the rescuers were able to reach the stricken group, who were all from Newcastle.
The child and patient with the known medical condition were brought down first and checked over before the remainder were returned to safety. All were found to be cold and wet but otherwise unhurt. They were then escorted to Barnard Castle.
Steve Owers, from the mountain rescue team, said: “The conditions overnight were not good at all once you got above Langdon Beck. The wind was blasting snow all over the place.”
He urged anyone thinking of heading out onto the fells to consult a mountain weather forecast before doing so.
“In this case, there was no snow at all in Middleton-in-Teesdale but once you were up there at 700m then it was blowing a blizzard,” said Mr Owers.
“If you are going to go up into the hills for whatever reason, get a mountain weather forecast and respond to what it is telling you. If it is telling you it’s going to snow and there will be high winds, are you prepared and capable enough to go out in those conditions?
“We are trying to get the message across that although it may be raining in the valleys, once you get up high it gets colder and the chances are it is going to be snowing.”
Mr Owers said all involved in the rescue had worked well together in difficult conditions.
