1 March 2021
Staithes: an interesting place to pitch a tent for the weekend
Posted by Dave Petley
Staithes: an interesting place to pitch a tent for the weekend
The UK is currently in a Covid-19 lockdown. It is illegal to stay away from home without due reason; all cafes, restaurants and bars are closed, as are non-essential shops. In general the population has responded well, and the statistics are all pointing in the right direction. The vaccine roll-out is a remarkable success – over 90% of the population aged 65 and over has now been vaccinated, as have most frontline health workers and those with medical conditions that render them particularly vulnerable. As I’m over 50, I can expect to receive a first dose by the middle of next month.
This is the context for a remarkable decision by a couple who, at the weekend, decided to take their child for spot of rough camping. Presumably wanting to get away from it all, they chose to pitch their tent at the top of the highest sea cliffs on the east of England near to Staithes in North Yorkshire. The Staithes Coastguard. posted images on their Facebook feed:-
The tent at the top of the cliff near to Staithes. Image posted to Facebook by the Staithes Coastguard.
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No-one can deny that the campers chose a beautiful spot, and the weather this weekend was glorious:-
The location of the tent at the top of the cliff near to Staithes. Image posted to Facebook by the Staithes Coastguard.
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But at this site there is a long way to fall:-
View down on the tent at the top of the cliff near to Staithes. Image posted to Facebook by the Staithes Coastguard.
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A Google Earth image of this area illustrates why this location was a poor choice:-
Google Earth image of the site of the tent near to Staithes.
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The ditch between the tent and the fields is of course a tension crack for the block that is actively deforming. The tent has been pitched on the top of the landslide block. Landslides on this section of cliff are frequent and are sometimes fatal, sadly.
Overall, this was not a good plan.
Dave Petley is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hull in the United Kingdom. His blog provides commentary and analysis of landslide events occurring worldwide, including the landslides themselves, latest research, and conferences and meetings.
beautiful place to die !
I can understand why they chose that spot – it seems far away from everyone, out of the way, and in a beautiful location. But now after reading your blogs and other information on landslides, it looks like a tragedy waiting to happen.
They did pick a beautiful weekend to camp.
“Darwin Award” nomination ??
You wouldn’t want to go for a wander in the deep, dark night looking for somewhere to have a pee.
Definitely! Brains and a thinking process wasn’t high on this ones list – even if he knew absolutely no geology.
I’ve been a rock & ice climber for 40 years and a lifelong geomorphology enthusiast, with an especially passionate interest in high-relief landscapes….. and how they respond to gravity.
Cliffs rock my world.
However, I’m still alive & healthy because of an appreciation for a fundamental concept in mountaineering. Using knowledge, awareness and a humbled attitude……
…to calculate the risks.
This “interesting” math…… does not add-up.