The three got lost on Foel-fras. Photo: Terry Hughes CC-BY-SA-2.0

Three walkers tackling the Welsh 3,000s challenge sparked an eight-hour night-time search after getting lost on the final peak of the route.

Rescuers were called out at 11.30pm yesterday when the trio, from London, became disoriented in deteriorating weather on Foel-fras the last mountain on the 14-peak challenge.

Members of the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation searched the area around Foel-fras and Drum at the north-eastern end of the Carneddau range.

Rescuers said the men were not well equipped: they had only one sleeping bag between them and no extra warm layers. They were not experienced mountain walkers, they added.

Chris Lloyd of the Ogwen Valley MRO said: “At 11.30pm on Saturday, we had a minimal-information callout for three men lost in cloud probably on Foel-fras.

“They were poorly equipped due to leaving kit in the Ogwen Valley with other members of the group who wanted to abandon their attempt on the Welsh 3000s.

“Shortly after midnight two Land Rovers and five troops drove to the cloud-covered windswept summit of Drum at the northern end of the Carneddau range.

“Venturing into the swirling mists, they made a broad sweep on the main path along the spine of the Carneddau, ascending Foel-fras, Carnedd Gwenllian and eventually to the refuge hut on Foel Grach.

“Without success and minimal information from the missing three, we retraced our steps in a lightening sky as dawn progressed.

“Descending the misty northern slope of Foel Fras, we found the three heading up the slope!

“They had taken shelter during darkness and were now moving to try to find where they might be. We turned them around and walked them to Drum where they were driven down to friends at Abergwyngregyn.

“The three men had no mountain-walking experience, the three, in their mid to late 20s, from London had planned the adventure with the intention of using global maps on their phones.

“All was well until batteries ran out. They now appreciate their errors.”

Shortly before dawn, the neighbouring Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team was asked to join the search.

A team spokesperson said: “The Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation deployed several team members to conduct a search which continued until 5am, when it became apparent that additional personnel were required to assist in the search.

“Six team members and one Land Rover ambulance were deployed from the team’s base at Porthmadog, although luckily our assistance was not required as the missing trio were located as the team were leaving the base at 5.45am.”

The rescue was the second of the weekend involving walkers getting lost while attempting the Welsh 3,000s challenge.

The former Parachute Regiment soldier was walking the Welsh 3,000s for third time to raise cash for charity.

On Friday, the Ogwen and Aberglaslyn teams rescued a 67-year-old solo walker lost in the dark on Carnedd Llewelyn.

He was found at 5.30am, cold and wet but otherwise unharmed, after a seven-hour search.

The circuit of the Welsh 3,000s is a tough, 24-hour challenge involving the summiting of the three peaks in the Snowdon massif plus Elidir Fawr, Y Garn, Glyder Fawr, Glyder Fach, Tryfan, Pen yr Ole Wen, Carnedd Dafydd, Carnedd Llewelyn, Yr Elen, Foel Grach, Garnedd Uchaf and Foel-fras.