Snowdon. Photo: Steve Cadman
The bodies of two men have been found on Snowdon by mountain rescuers searching for a pair who were reported missing on Sunday night.
North Wales Police said the men, who have not yet been formally identified, were believed to be two missing climbers from Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. It is understood they were Christopher McCallion, 30, and his brother James, 35, who were both in training for endurance events.
A spokesperson for the police said: “Police were called at 9.01pm last night [Sunday] by a family member expressing concern for the two who had failed to return home as arranged.
“The Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team and Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team were informed along with RAF Squadron 22.”
The night search was called off but rescuers resumed the hunt for the missing men just after 8am this morning. They were found by members of the Llanberis team, having fallen about 200m (650ft) from Clogwyn Coch, just over 1km (⅔ mile) north of the main Snowdon summit.
Rescuers said the climbers were properly equipped, but high winds and snow were making conditions on the 1085m (3,560ft) mountain hazardous to anyone who was not experienced.
- Two men were airlifted unharmed from the mountain today, Monday.
A Sea King helicopter from RAF Valley winched the cragfast pair, who were in their 20s, from Crib Goch
Sian
02 February 2009Just for information, the men were found by SARDA Wales dogs, who were deployed with the Llanberis team.
Ian
03 February 2009Clogwyn Goch is a notorious accident blackspot where there have been a number of accidents over the years, including three youngsters who died in the 80's. Snow and ice builds up across the railway line and forms a convex slope. Any slip will send you into Cwn Clogwyn.
I read one report which stated they were not wearing crampons or carrying ice axes, but the report above indicates quite clearly they were.
A sad reminder of how a relatively innocuous section can become highly dangerous in winter conditions.