A day in the life of...

During the year more than half a million people telephone the Weatherline or look at the website to check on weather conditions for the fell tops and the rest of the Lake District National Park.

Between December and March, the National Park Authority's fell top assessors undertake daily treks up Helvellyn to record snow, ice and wind conditions above 3,000 feet.

Spotlight on Craig Palmer, Fell top assessor

Craig Palmer, former Marine commando injured in Iraq is now set on a not so secret service.

Selected to scale the Lake District’s second highest peak in a daily mission to bring back weather reports and help save lives, the man who has served in Bosnia, Sierra Leone, Norway and the Caribbean says it’s a top job.

An outdoor guide, instructor and record breaker, Craig Palmer sees himself as a fresh face and educator in the fell top assessor role - one of England’s more bizarre posts.

Working a week on, week off, from December to April, Craig faces a daily trek up 950 metre Helvellyn to check out conditions including wind, snow and ice for a crucial weather service. A seven-day shift is equivalent to a walk that would almost reach the top of Everest.

Used by nearly half a million people a year, Lake District National Park Authority’s Weatherline phone and online reports helps protect the area’s 12 million annual visitors and locals from conditions that can change rapidly, and fatally, on the fells.

Craig’s mountain skills are extensive. He has Ministry of Defence qualifications in Artic survival and ski instruction and civilian awards in winter and mountain leadership, first aid, health and safety.

He broke a world record in 2003 for the highest ever ascent with a wheelchair-bound mountaineer, when he took a man 5,600m up Kilimanjaro, narrowly missing the summit.

He has also led expeditions in the Pyrenees and Alps and is a member of Penrith Mountain Rescue Team.

“From becoming a cub at the age of seven, mountains have been my home. I live and breathe them,” explained Craig. “From a very early age, it was my ambition to get paid for being in the hills!”

In two tours of duty in Iraq, he worked with Kurdish refugees and before leaving the service three years ago, served in border territories.

“As a fell top assessor, I can put something back. The safety parts of the job are paramount, but I also want to help people on the mountain, sharing its history, its fauna and very special atmosphere,” he said.

It’s a vitally important job, according to Director of Park Services Bob Cartwright.

“Our two assessors work alternate weeks and are expected to leave Glenridding, near Ullswater, and reach the summit in under two hours. We are delighted to have someone of Craig’s calibre on board.”