 Rescuers say more people are on the mountains, and view Tryfan as a challenge
Members of a mountain rescue team say the number of call-outs they will handle this year will almost double. Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue members, who cover part of Snowdonia, have attended 114 incidents so far in 2009. That compares to an annual average of 65, and they say it reflects increasing numbers of climbers and walkers. But they also warned that instead of tackling problems themselves, people often unnecessarily used their mobile phone to call emergency services. Following another busy weekend, official Chris Lloyd said many of the cases involved no injuries, and especially those over the past few days. He said that "if they hadn't had a mobile phone they would have sorted themselves out". Ian Henderson of the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team said they had already been called out more than 160 times this year, compared to 105 in 2008. "I think it's probably simply due to the fact there have been many more people on the mountains this year," he said. He added that, in his opinion, a lower percentage of walkers and climbers were getting into difficulties. Mr Lloyd said however that it seemed that increasingly people were less "self-reliant". "They seem to dial 999 and then leave someone else to sort it out," he added. On Sunday team members were involved in three rescues. The first call at lunchtime was from a man who said he was stuck or lost on the north ridge of Tryfan. Helicopter Mr Lloyd said it was lucky that 22 Squadron, from RAF Valley, were flying in the area and the helicopter was available to help out. "As they were flying over the west face of Tryfan they saw a group of four people - three in red and one in black - and the group indicated that they needed help.  Some of the incidents marked on a map on the team's website |
"We thought the man in black was the man who had called us, but it turned out not to be our man," said Mr Lloyd. Meanwhile another call came in from two student rock climbers, from Liverpool and London, who were stuck on "slippery rock" about 600ft (182m) up a climb of about 750ft (228m), and they were rescued by the same helicopter. "As this was happening we got a call to say at the man who had originally called us was back down by his car," said Mr Lloyd. RAF support He added that another reason for the increase in the number of call-outs was there were more people out on the mountains, and after Snowdon - the highest peak in Wales and England - Tryfan was seen as a "challenge". "It is the only true mountain where you have to take both hands out of your pockets [because you have to scramble on all fours]," he said. "It looks easy - and only takes about an hour to get to the top - but it's always a challenge and not very easy," he added. Mr Lloyd said the RAF decision to end night-time flights for a period of six weeks later this month would also affect the rescue team. "It will be an inconvenience to us, but they are not there to rescue civilians," he said. "It is a voluntary agreement, and we are grateful for all the support we usually get," he added. Meanwhile, Ian Henderson of the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team said they had already been called out more than 160 times this year compared to 105 last year. "I think it's probably simply due to the fact there have been many more people on the mountains this year," he said.
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They seem to dial 999 and then leave someone else to sort it out
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