The search is on for two new members of the Lake District National Park’s Fell Top Assessor team.
Between December and April, the team take it in turns to climb Helvellyn, one of England’s highest peaks, to take weather readings and assess winter walking and climbing conditions.
The national park is looking for two mountain professionals, with winter mountain leader qualifications and ideally be winter mountaineering and climbing instructors.
The two successful candidates will join an existing Fell Top Assessor, based in Glenridding, near Ullswater, to work on a part time rotational basis over the winter months.
They can face four seasons in one day when out on the Lake District fells.
Now in its 37th year, the online service plays a key role in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of winter walkers, runners, climbers and skiers.
Zac Poulton, who has been a Fell Top Assessor since 2017, said: “The ethos of the service is giving quality information about conditions so people can make good decisions about their activities in the mountains.
“In winter, the mountain is different every day, it’s a fresh canvas for those who are out and about. It’s the best job for anyone who is interested in the outdoors.
“You get to enjoy the Lake District fells throughout the winter, meet and help people. Fell Top Assessors also run popular winter skills courses. These help participants to make those crucial first steps into the winter environment in a safe and supportive atmosphere. All in all, I get a great sense of job satisfaction knowing that I am helping to keep people safe on the fells.”
Fell top facts
- The job involves a walk up Helvellyn, measuring 950m (3,117ft) tall, and making it the third highest peak in England.
- On average it takes the assessors three hours to make the climb.
- To produce their reports, assessors brave the rain, snow and wind chill as low as minus 16C.
- The online service helps protect 18 million visitors and locals from conditions that can change rapidly and fatally on the fells
- Helvellyn is chosen for the fell top assessment as it is the most popular fell and has a large east facing headwall that retains the snow and ice
- Assessors’ reports are combined with the Met Office forecasts to give the fullest possible picture.
