Hot Spots

The first snowfall of winter transforms Eryri’s mountains into a wonderland of white - but it carries with it very real risks.

An experienced climber is planning to paraglide off Crib Goch in the snow. But when he starts suffering from severe dizziness, he makes the decision to call for help. He’s on one of the most treacherous ridges in Eryri - and with a wind chill of minus 12, there’s a risk of hypothermia. So there’s no time to lose for the mountain rescue team.

Next, flooding incidents are becoming a more and more frequent hazard for Eryri’s rescue teams, especially North Wales Fire and Rescue Service. People can be caught out in a matter of minutes - even when they’re away from a riverside. When a call for help comes in for a dog walker missing in fast-flowing flood water, fire crews rush to the scene, along with police, mountain rescue, ambulance and the coastguard helicopter. It’s a highly unpredictable and risky environment for everyone - and the teams face some very difficult decisions.

Sometimes, rescuers must respond to calls without knowing exactly what the emergency is - or if it’s even a genuine person in trouble. When mountain rescue receives reports from passers-by who think they’ve heard cries for help above Cwm Idwal, there’s a chance it could be something else - the mountain goats, who are a frequent cause of false alarms. But when the team starts searching in the dark, they hear a shout that’s decidedly human.