A BIZARRE but potentially life-saving job that requires the successful applicant to climb a mountain in the Lake District in Britain every single day has been advertised.

    As Britain braces itself for the onslaught of winter, a Lake District “fell top assessor” is needed to record weather conditions on 950-meter peak Helvellyn, the park’s third highest peak.

    To give an impression of how gruelling the role is, a seven-day shift is equivalent to almost reaching Qomolangma’s summit.

    Running from December to Easter, the role sees a team of two working alternate weeks for Weatherline, a Lake District weather forecasting service that helps protect nearly 15 million visitors and locals from conditions that can change rapidly — and fatally — on the fells.

    The role, which has a salary of £21,394 (US$34,440) — £25,240 pro rata, requires the ability to write concise reports, assess snow and ice conditions and to use a map and compass.

    Long-standing assessor and mountain man, Jon Bennett, needs a “running mate” to brave driving rain, snow drifts and wind chill temperatures plummeting to minus 16 degrees Celsius.

    He says it is vital in winter months to check conditions underfoot and assess risks, including potential avalanches, and that their daily reports were a lifeline.

    Winter mountaineering and weather buff, Bennett, has been doing his “dream job” for eight years and says “it’s awesome being the eyes and ears of Helvellyn.”

    The role is vital as the mountain has claimed a number of lives.

    Decorated RAF engineer Robert Pascoe, 24, died after plunging nearly 200 meters from Helvellyn’s notorious Striding Edge ridge Oct. 4 last year.

    His walking partner found him unconscious — but because there was no mobile phone signal, he could not raise the alarm.

    A Royal Air Force Sea King helicopter was dispatched as part of a rescue mission — but the man’s body was later recovered from Nethermost Cove.

    Applications are now being sought from those with considerable winter experience on the fell tops and preferably a mountaineering qualification.

    Tens of thousands use Weatherline and when it was threatened with closure three years ago, a raft of sponsors came to the rescue.

    Money-making ventures include offering a day with the assessors on Ebay.

    (SD-Agencies)