Team vehicles at the scene during the Cnicht rescue which involved stretchering the walker off the hill. Photo: Aberdyfi SRT

Rescuers talked a group of lost Snowdonia walkers to safety after confirming their position with a grid-reference disc attached to a stile.

The 10 walkers got lost in misty conditions on Cadair Idris on Saturday and called for help.

Aberdyfi Search and Rescue Team was alerted about 7pm by police.

Graham O’Hanlon of the Aberdyfi team said: “The group was able to identify their location by means of one of the grid reference discs attached to stiles on the range, and were advised by the police call-handler to hold their position until contacted by mountain rescue.

“With knowledge of their exact position, a team call-handler was able to give them precise instructions on how to proceed, and checked with them at 15 minute intervals to assess progress.

“A party of three team volunteers headed up the path to meet the group and escort them down the final stages.

“During this phase the hill party encountered another group making slow progress due to a party member with a knee injury. Both parties were safely escorted off the hill.”

Earlier in the evening, the Aberdyfi team was asked to join a rescue with Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team and South Snowdonia Search and Rescue Team when a walker suffered an injury on the back of Cnicht.

The Aberglaslyn team requested the help of their Aberdyfi colleagues stretchering the woman off the hill about 5.30pm.

Mr O’Hanlon said: “Our team vehicle, along with those of Aberglaslyn and South Snowdonia teams, drove as far as Croesor Quarry from where team volunteers deployed on foot.

“The casualty had been treated and packaged by casualty carers from AMRT, and Aberdyfi and South Snowdonia volunteers met up with the casualty party as they made a start on the journey off the mountain.

“With visibility as low as 20m at times, and very wet conditions underfoot, this was a slow and difficult process.”