Walkers are warned about climbing Welsh mountains unprepared after several rescues.
Experienced climbers shared bad examples. People wore fashion shoes and clothes. One person had Crocs and shorts. Some slipped on the Llanberis Path, even with good shoes on.
On Christmas, three got lost on Snowdon. It was dark and they lacked torches. The Llanberis team had to rescue them. They had 18 calls by January’s end and more cold weather is coming.
Ogwen Valley Rescue had 19 incidents by February 18. Many were avoidable incidents. Groups used apps for navigation but lacked terrain awareness. Some blindly followed app tracks.
Bad weather was only the third reason for rescues. Human error was the top cause, followed by inexperience and weather. Unfit walkers also factored in. Poor visibility contributed to calls, along with bad gear and footwear issues, and communication problems.
Ogwen Valley Rescue gave advice for Eryri trips. Pack warm clothes and hot drinks. Bring extra food for delays. Consider your skills for the chosen route. Late starts caused callouts. Take fully charged torches for dark navigation, and start early if needed. Choose easier routes too.
Three mountains are deadly, per Countryfile. The Snowdon range has eight deaths yearly. Snowdon draws many visitors, some lacking outdoor experience.
Snowdon attracts 750,000 visitors each year. Llanberis has the UK’s busiest rescue team. The team nearly broke in 2023, responding to 309 calls. North Wales teams had 733 calls total. Many take the train partway up Snowdon but hike without proper gear or food.
Tryfan trained Everest climbers in 1953. It’s less crowded than Snowdon, but is a challenging climb. Tryfan lacks marked paths to the top, so people get lost there often.
A climber made a YouTube video about Tryfan’s risks. In 2024, it caused 28% of Ogwen Valley’s calls. You use hands to reach Tryfan’s top, making it good for bridging hiking and climbing. Even easy routes are scramble grade one. People get stuck in gullies, and Y-Gully had a fatal 2024 accident. Another walker fell and died on Tryfan.
Crib Goch is a sharp ridge that can paralyze climbers with fear. Some crawl parts on their knees. Cold months are for pros with gear, as wind is very risky on Crib Goch.
Only climb Crib Goch on dry, calm days. Like Tryfan, it has scramble grade one sections. Crib Goch has a long, exposed ridge that is tough for confident walkers. The terrain is rocky and loose, and a fall at that height can kill.