Local people making their corner of rural Britain unique
This week
Saturday 26th January
In this week's Open Country Matt Bakers tackles one of the toughest mountains in the country as he attempts to scale Helvellyn with the one of the most extreme weather men in the Britain.
Craig Palmer is one of two mountain men with one of the most bizarre jobs in England. It involves a daily trek up one of the Lake District’s highest peaks to check out weather conditions for a service used by nearly half a million people each year: Weatherline. Matt Baker joins Craig on his daily ascent of Helvellyn..
At this time of year conditions on Helvellyn are treacherous. Just this month two climbers have fallen to their death. The mountain rescue team is a vital service in the Lake District, but it is becoming increasingly under threat. Dave Freeborn is team leader of the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team and Kaz Brush is a dog handler for the Penrith Team
Matt is given a guided tour around the mountain rescue centre in Patterdale and meets Kaz's rescue dog, Dottie.
Open Country takes a snapshot of life on Helvellyn and in the Lakes in the winter. What are the challenges facing climbers and the staff who’s job it is to look after the walkers and the mountains? And will Matt make it to the summit of Helvellyn?
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