The Lake District National Park is on the hunt for two adventurous souls to join its fell top assessor team.

The selected candidates will be responsible for providing crucial weather updates and safety advice during the frosty winter months, from December to April.

As fell top assessors, the new recruits will have to scale one of England's tallest peaks Helvellyn to take weather readings and assess walking and climbing conditions.

To qualify, the applicants should possess a Winter Mountain Leader qualification and, if possible, should be a winter mountaineering and climbing instructor.

The two successful applicants will join an existing assessor in Glenridding, near Ullswater and will work on a part-time rotational basis over the winter.

This service, currently in its 37th year, plays an instrumental role in safeguarding winter walkers, runners, skiers, and climbers who dare to weather the unpredictable Lake District fells during winter.

The fell top assessor’s task does not end on the fells.

They have to publish their assessments on the Lake District Weather Line website.

These updates are then shared with nearly 30,000 followers of @lakesweather on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Zac Poulton, 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."

Speaking on the winter courses that the assessors can also run, he said: "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."

Information about the role and how to apply can be found on the Lake District National Park careers page.

The deadline for applications is 11.59pm on August 19, 2024.

The fell top assessors’ tasks include a brisk three-hour climb up Helvellyn, negotiating with temperatures that can drop as low as minus 16°C.

Their assessments will be combined with Met Office forecasts to give the fullest possible picture of rapidly changing conditions on the hills, helping protect residents and around 18 million visitors each year.

The peak of Helvellyn is chosen for its popularity and due to its large east facing headwall that retains the snow and ice, making it an ideal site for assessments.