North Wales Police praised the work and dedication of the voluntary mountain rescue team

Rescue on Snowdonia’s iconic Crib Goch brings the UK’s busiest mountain rescue team to a record-breaking 200 incidents in 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As darkness fell on the 30th of November Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team were called out to assist two walkers who had become stuck on the pinnacles of Crib Goch. The rescue was the 200th incident for the team in 2016, making Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team the first voluntary mountain team to surpass 200 incidents in a year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The two walkers had been traversing Crib Goch when one of the pair fractured their ankle. They attempted to carry on but as the ankle injury impeded progress and darkness fell they decided to call for assistance. With low cloud preventing aircraft assistance a party of 5 team members were deployed on foot to recover the pair, with a further 11 team members in support. The casualty was treated for her injuries before being assisted to a point below the cloud where HM Coastguard’s Rescue 936 was able to retrieve the casualty and take her to Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team’s area of responsibility includes Snowdon, a mountain which attracts more visitors than any other in the UK. As a result, the team are called to a wide variety of incidents throughout the year. The team have also seen a dramatic 400% increase in the number of reported incidents over the past decade. As team chairman Rob Johnson explains; ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is a dubious honour to be the first team to surpass 200 incidents in a year and the figure follows our busiest ever summer with 43 callouts in 31 days in August. Every single incident is responded to by volunteers and this is an incredible achievement for each and every member of the team. My heartfelt thanks goes out to every team member and the families, friends and employers that support them and allow us to provide this service.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Despite the avoidable nature of many of the incidents on Snowdon, Llanberis MRT have adopted an approach of non-criticism of mountain casualties. Pressing instead for greater action and cooperation from agencies responsible for promoting and managing recreation in the area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

With full winter conditions prevailing on Snowdonia’s mountains in recent weeks, Rob Johnson has the following advice to give: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“There are full winter conditions on the summits of the mountains in Snowdonia at the moment – many of us have been enjoying some fine skiing and winter mountaineering over the last 5-7 days. It is important that people plan for their mountain adventures properly – check a mountain forecast and establish where the snow and ice will start and plan to avoid them if you haven’t got the correct winter equipment and experience. You can have a great day in the mountains without having to go up high. Remember it is always easier heading up – most accidents happen in winter when people try to descend on hard snow that is extremely slippery and often above steep drops. Enjoy the mountains safely!” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​