The climbers got into difficulties on Tryfan's east face. Photo: Pip Rolls CC-BY-SA-2.0

The climbers got into difficulties on Tryfan's east face. Photo: Pip Rolls CC-BY-SA-2.0

A group of climbers had to be rescued from a Snowdonia mountain after getting into difficulties.

Four men and one woman were in a student group tackling Grooved Arête on the East Face of Tryfan yesterday, Saturday when the light failed.

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation was called out about 6pm after they called 999.

Chris Lloyd of the rescue team said the climbers set off in good time but took longer than expected on the route on the 917m (ft) mountain.

“Three of the party were novices on real rock which might have added to their slow progress.

“One member of the party became cold and exhausted as the weather deteriorated to rain and sleet. They decided to escape off route into Green Gully and try to abseil down.

“However, with the one member, who was lightly clad for the deteriorating conditions, reluctant to progress off the mountain and a stuck abseil rope, they decided to call for mountain rescue via North Wales Police.

“We dispatched a hasty team of three while a strong stretcher and rope rescue team comprising of OVMRO, RAF Valley and RAF Leeming MRTs mobilised.

“On departure of this large party from Oggie Base, the hasty team had made contact with the five students who by now had successfully got down to Heather Terrace.

“From here, they were escorted slowly down to Oggie Base for hot tea.”

The rescue was completed by about 10pm, but in the meantime the team had another call for help from a party on the other side of the Ogwen Valley.

A group of four walkers said they were helping a couple from Nantwich in Cheshire down the East Ridge of Pen yr Ole Wen.

Mr Lloyd said: “As this was just a request for escort, the heavy kit was left at base and about a dozen mountain rescue troops went up to meet the group.

“The female half of the couple was very tired after a long day on the Carneddau and had called 999 for mountain rescue.

“The couple left the A5 at about 9am to climb Pen yr Ole Wen, Carnedd Dafydd and Carnedd Llewelyn with the intention of descending to Ffynnon Llugwy.

“They found the descent to be covered with snow and ice. As they had no crampons or axes they decided to turn back.

“They met the party of four, who had torches, who escorted them back to Pen yr Ole Wen. Once we met with them, the group of four went on their way down to the A5 where the team Land Rover took them back to their car at Idwal car park.

“Despite the slow pace of descent, the woman started to complain of aching knees. She asked for a stretcher evacuation.

“Members of the RAF MRTs ran off down the mountainside to collect a stretcher while the casualty and partner were placed in a bivvy shelter and analgesics were administered to her.

“While the stretcher was awaited, the route was waymarked with torches. Soon the very fit RAF troops had the stretcher up the hillside.”

Mr Lloyd said the stretcher carry was carried out in wet and boggy conditions with streams in spate, as the rescuers made their way down to Glan Dena. The couple were then taken in the team Land Rover to the nearby rescue base where they were warmed up, dried out and fed.

He added: “The couple recovered from their ordeal and were delivered back to their car by about 11pm.”

A pair of climbers from the same university was rescued the same night by the neighbouring Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team which was called out about 11pm.

Two students got lost after completing a climb on Y Lliwedd on the Snowdon massif.

They were brought to safety by the Llanberis team in a rescue lasting about four hours.

A walker was also treated by the team after injuring himself in a tumbling fall on steep snowy ground. He managed to walk down and meet rescuers before being taken to hospital.

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