Storm Amy prompts avoidable rescue calls by Snowdonia volunteers

Volunteers from the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation responded to multiple avoidable callouts across Eryri during Storm Amy earlier this month, including the technical rescue of a solo walker on Tryfan amid gusts recorded at 86 mph in Capel Curig. The incidents, which took place over roughly 30 hours, involved walkers who set out without adequate equipment or who were caught out by the storm and heavy rainfall.

OVMRO said the first incident on September 15 involved two friends who, having checked the weather the week before, set out at midafternoon to camp on the summit of Carnedd Dafydd but had not seen the storm warning. They were unable to pitch their tent in the conditions and, while descending toward Abergwyngregyn, one fell into a bog. Rescuers located the pair using the SARLOC phone-tracking system and directed them to Aber Falls, where a small team intercepted, rewarmed them, and escorted them to a campsite for the night.

Within the same period the team dealt with two other callouts in the Carneddau. One involved two walkers who abandoned plans to climb Yr Wyddfa because of parking difficulties and instead set off late in the day on a route without headtorches,...