The pair set off up the Pyg Track but took a wrong turn. Photo: John S Turner CC-BY-SA-2.0
A man wearing trainers was one of two who were airlifted from the icy slopes of Wales’s highest mountain after getting stuck.
The pair were rescued yesterday evening after ringing 999 when they could not go up or down on steep ground under Crib Goch on Snowdon.
Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team said the men, in their early 20s and from Yorkshire, were poorly dressed and equipped, with one dressed in jeans and a hoody.
A team spokesperson said: they left Pen y Pass intending to make their way to the 1,085m (3,560ft) summit of the mountain to take pictures.
“They followed the Pyg Track then made a navigational error due to having no map and turned off the path onto steep ground below Carnedd Ugain.
They climbed up hill on snow and ice until they became stuck, neither able to go up nor down due to snow and ice. At this point they rang 999 for assistance.”
The men did not have ice-axes or crampons. They became cold very quickly, rescuers said.
Llanberis MRT was called out at 5.30pm as it was getting dark. 10 volunteer members of the team were involved in the rescue, with six making their way up on to the mountain to the stranded walkers.
The spokesperson said: “Due to the impending darkness and their position we requested a helicopter to assist.”
A Sea King from RAF Valley flew to the site and the par were winched aboard and taken to the team’s base in Nant Peris.” Rescuers said they were uninjured but very cold.
They said there were clear skies with light winds but freezing temperatures and there was hard snow and ice over the upper part of the mountain.
The team spokesperson added: “Under present weather conditions, ice-axe and crampons together with the ability to use them are necessary for the upper part of the mountain even on recognised paths.
“Warm clothing is required together with spare additional clothing as people quickly cool down when stopped.
“Trainers and denim jeans are not suitable
“Commonsense is a good guide; when in doubt turn back and come and enjoy the mountains again on another day.”
deejay
28 February 2013If ever there was a case for charging fools for their rescue then surely this is it!
Madness!
Martin R
28 February 2013Before condemning them think about the things you shouldn't have done in hindsight. You were lucky and did not get caught out.
Iceman
28 February 2013As well as not not have ice-axes or crampons, did they have any Brain Cells?
bert
28 February 2013i agree with Martin R...people are always so quick to condemn...we had to use MRT in Torridon once...all of our party were/are competent winter climbers and mountaineers...just because you are a mad ice warrior doesn't mean you won't call upon the emergency services...people make mistakes and shit happens.
Ste
28 February 2013Sorry bert and Martin but you can't condone their actions. All it takes is a look at the met office mountain forecast and invest in some microspikes. It won't make them ice warriors but at least they might get out of trouble.
tina
28 February 2013Trainers and jeans????!!!! In full winter conditions? Beggars believe......!
stigofthenest
28 February 2013The thing is Snowdon is so accessible with its cafe & railway -how hard can it be?
It doesn't beggar belief - you see it here there and everywhere...all the time..
Ive been up Snowdon maybe a dozen times, I've seen folks in sandals, mankinis, bhurkas, a woman with a cat on her shoulder...
There maybe should have been a penny dropping moment where they realised they were getting beyond their depth but summit fever affects many of us..
I bet the paths are pretty clear down at low level, if the tops were clouded out you might not even know there was snow up there..
My wife started suffering from heat stroke on Ben Cruachan in April last year- she's climbed close to 500 hills & it was a very close call whether we called mrt or not. It can happen to anyone.
Rod - Out There People
28 February 2013You know what you know - simple.
When it comes to the things that you don't know things get complicated! There are lots of things that that you didn't know, you don't know (until you find out - often in painful circumstances!)
The knowledge, experience and competencies I now have, I didn't have in 1995 when starting my mountain career when I lived nr Snowdonia and began walking up mountains.
I shudder to think of some of the things I did then, with pitiful awareness of the objective risks I was subjecting myself to.
The phrase "live and learn" will no doubt be applicable for Millenia to come!
Rod
Out There People (Outdoor provider, Lake District)
Mark
28 February 2013What stupidity they should be charged for the rescue
This stupidity has now cost the tax payer for them to be air lifted off. It also puts the mountain rescue teams at risk just remember these are volunteers
Steve
28 February 2013So you start charging. So the mindset is you go out for a walk, scramble or whatever and get into difficulty but you know you'll get a bill if you call for a rescue. So you think no I'll wait and try and rescue yourself and get deeper and deeper in the mire. A simple rescue becomes a difficult rescue a daytime rescue becomes a nighttime rescue. Etc.
Your never going to stop people being stupid and stuff just happens and as a tax payer I may get upset with these people but no it's got to be free.
DaveB1
28 February 2013It is easy to condemn these people, because we know and recognize, the skill and bravery of those who are part of the MRT/Air Sea Rescue Organisations and these folk have potentially put others lives in danger through their ignorance and/or thoughtlessness.
I saw similar ill equipped people on Coniston Old Man last Sunday and spoke to a few of them advising them of the conditions (full crampons and Ice axe on descent), some turned around , others thanked me and pressed on.
I'm not sure we should judge quickly, it may be the experience will act as a spur to learn more and be better equipped next time, if there is one!
In the meantime I will still put money in the box for MRT, Air ambulance etc. just in case!!
Margaret
01 March 2013We should consider that most of the people that get themselves into trouble like this with poor, if any, equipment and little or no experience of the hills can usually be described as tourists - certainly not mountaineers.
The discussion might then be around 'what is encouraging them' to take to the hills so ill prepared and requiring mountaineers (remembering that rescue personel are mountaineers) to go to their assistance.
Alan
01 March 2013I've read all the comments and simply it it just being stuborn and stupid. They should not be given the benefit of the doubt, they could see see what was ahead of them. Do they realise that other people put their lives at risk to get to them. IDIOTS -- IDIOTS I hope they read these comments
Margaret
01 March 2013Alan, you don't think tourism and commercial promotion might be a contributing factor.
stigofthenest
01 March 2013i was watching the bbc news & weather on wednesday when the forecaster suggested it would be a lovely day on the hills in the lake district tomorrow.
it was a lovely day no doubt.. but there's still difficult conditions underfoot. yet the forecaster was practically encouraging people to go to the lakes..
its never as clear cut as some folks on here would like to believe..
Jhimmy
01 March 2013Firstly, you can climb any mountain in jeans and trainers. Fell runners do these conditions all the time in trainers and shorts.
Secondly, charge £100 per rescue. It's all fair and good to encourage people to walk the hills, but someone has to pick up the pieces (MRT) when there's a rescue.
Thirdly, many hill walkers will pay £300 for a jacket + £150 boots etc., but wont spend a penny on navigational training.
Forthly, It's easy to criticise lack of equipment, but virtually no-one will criticise a persons lack of fitness to be on the hills or mountains.
Lastly, accidents do happen, £100 to be rescued is cheap. How much is YOUR life worth?
stigofthenest
02 March 2013jhimmy - the thing is... if put in the position of ''we will rescue you but it will cost you £100'' you're opening up a whole can of wormies.. people would say no.. die and then all hell would break loose..
Jeriqui
02 March 2013We saw a lot of this last weekend, silly people not well equipped walking into trouble, don't under estimate Winter Mountains.
James Gow
03 March 2013S**t happens folks. People are always gonna require rescue services. Whether it be police, fire, paramedics and of course MRT. Are we gonna consider charging when you need your house fire put out as well then. I honestly don't know why people continue to discuss this charge for the being rescued when stuck on a hill business. There are very silly people out there that put not only their own life in danger but others too. However well equipped and knowledgeable people who use the hills require this service and that should be the end of. Remember this too, Mountain rescue members volunteer to be part of that particular team. I have the upmost respect and thanks for these people but they volunteer to do it because they want too. They join for a reason and that reason is to ultimately to get out on the hill and rescue people. No training exercise will substitute for the real thing.
Rob
05 March 2013MRT is a charity so doesn't really come from the tax payers purse in any case. Also worth noting that the vast majority of those rescued will learn their lesson. However, I still think it was foolish.
Al
01 April 2013Education is the key. Perhaps gear and kit manufacturers (these companies make a packet from us!) could fund/offset the cost of navigation, avalanche awareness, mountain safety etc lectures. A UK wide programme run by BMC, sponsored by outdoor companies with input from MRT/SAR members would maybe get the message across? Insurance? No thanks.