With five inches of snow falling in Buxton through Tuesday night, chilling thoughts passed through our Training Officer’s mind.

The risk of an avalanche in the Peak District is relatively low compared with the mountainous regions of the Lake District and North Wales.   However, you might be surprised to learn that there have been three fatalities in the area within living memory and, in the winter of 2013 Winnats Pass was completely blocked by a snow avalanche.

So whilst the risk may be low there is still a real concern and a mountain rescue team must be prepared for the worst event.  Each year the team sends about a dozen members north for a weekend to undergo specialist training in winter conditions.  This year a group will head up to Crainlarich in Scotland for a long weekend of instruction on working in snow conditions and maintaining personal safety.  However, that is still a few weeks away and with the weather forecast indicating more snow later next week, our Training Officer abandoned the planned medical session in favour of a review of avalanche searching.

Typical of the Peak District, within the two days from inspiration to the day of the  training event, most of the snow had receded and members were left having to pretend that just two inches of snow was in fact the debris from a large avalanche under which a casualty was buried.  In reality, anyone buried in snow for longer than fifteen minutes has a slim chance of survival and that chance diminishes the longer it takes to get them out.  Therefore team reactions have to be super fast and with only one realistic chance of finding anyone alive mistakes cannot be afforded.

The team swiftly line out just a couple of feet apart and sweep up the avalanche debris towards the point last seen.  Each member probes the snow with special poles before moving forward just half a pace in a perfect line.  Behind the searching line follow other members with snow shovels ready to dig away at any point indicated.  It’s a technique that takes discipline and practice.  It’s painfully slow and the chances of the casualty surviving burial tick away with every minute.

After two hours practice on a friendly farmer’s hillside in Wincle it’s time to call a halt and deal with the real Peak District conditions. The night brought with it freezing temperatures and the hard pack snow filling the farm track had turned into a skating rink.  Four x four owners had no difficulties but lesser mortals with two wheel drive cars weren’t going anywhere.

Time for Thunderbird Four to make an appearance.  A distant rumbling can be heard from behind the farmhouse as a prelude to the sudden appearance of a yellow glow in the night sky.  Then from the darkness and in a cloud of blue diesel fumes our savour rattles forth with cries of “Whoopee.” from the apparent demented Father Christmas riding the dragon towards us.  Is this the legendary beast of the Wincle Woods or the tormented sole of a long lost rambler seeking revenge on mountain rescuers who didn’t find him in time?  No, it’s team member Carney Turner with his trusty vintage tractor to the rescue.

The red wonder machine makes light work of pulling stranded vehicles to the top of the hill and its off to the local pub with its welcoming open log fire.  It was the perfect end to a hectic night, relaxing with a pint to of the local best.  Or it would be have been except the pub was in darkness and the door firmly bolted.  Such are the trials and tribulations of a Peakland rescue member.

Photos:   Top – searching for snow in long grass.    Lower – A temporary addition to the team’s vehicle fleet.