Take the weather with you...

10:35am Friday 7th March 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

TWO of the Lake District National Park Authority's senior figures got a taste of the rigours of life as a fell top assessor on the icy slopes of Lakeland's third highest peak.

LDNPA chief executive Richard Leafe and deputy chairman Vicky Darrall donned their winter climbing gear for a special fact-finding ascent of Helvellyn to see how information is gathered for a unique weather guide service.

The pair battled to the summit through 52mph winds accompanied by fell top assessor Craig Palmer, one of two assessors who climb the 950 metres daily to gather data for Weatherline phone and online reports which give potentially life-saving information to more than half-a-million people a year.

Mr Leafe said the climb was a valuable experience: "It underlined for me the vital role fell top assessors play in contributing to people's safety. We saw first-hand the nature of summit conditions and how unpredictable they can be."

Walkers can use a phone hotline or website to check the daily forecasts. Weatherline is available on 08700- 550575 or online at www.lake-district.gov.uk/weatherline.