Tryfan's North Ridge. Photo: Richard Webb CC-BY-SA-2.0
Rescuers have praised an injured walker who managed to hobble to the base of a mountain with their help.
The man was in a party of four from Buckinghamshire who got into difficulties on Tryfan’s North Ridge yesterday, Sunday.
The two men and two women, all in their 20s, called 999 about 1.30pm after one of their party suffered a knee injury.
Chris Lloyd of Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation said: “They were in Snowdonia for the weekend and had climbed Snowdon on Saturday where our casualty had assisted another walker and had twisted his knee in the process.”
Mr Lloyd said the four set off up the 918m (3,012ft) Tryfan by the North Ridge. He said they were all well equipped. “The weather was fine, just a bit of cloud on the tops though clearing during the day,” he added.
“The dusting of snow was thawing fast. On their way up our casualty took another awkward step inflicting more serious soft tissue damage to his weakened knee.
“After taking some analgesics, they started to make a descent of this notorious scramble. Progress was slow and the pain remained strong.
“Despite best attempts to self-rescue, the group wisely decided to alert mountain rescue. Six team members – two of whom were already on the mountain – were despatched to carry out casualty care.”
Rescue team members accompanied the man’s companions to the warmth of the OVMRO’s base opposite the foot of Tryfan, and supplied them with tea.
Mr Lloyd said: “A stretcher party was despatched, but the casualty managed to keep going with the assistance of a ‘short rope’ and walking poles.
“He successfully descended to the team Land Rover by about 5pm saving team members a lot of hard work if he had opted for a stretcher evacuation.
“He is to be highly commended for his efforts.
“This was an unfortunate accident that happened to a well equipped and experienced party.”
On Saturday a man was airlifted after falling 30m (100ft) from a Snowdonia mountain.
There was confusion for rescuers after the phone call from the man’s climbing companion was cut short after the signal was lost during the 999 call.
Information suggested the pair could have been on the Great Orme at Llandudno. There was also a suggestion they could have been on Snowdon.
Police then contacted Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation to say the pair were in Cwm Eigiau on Carnedd Llewelyn.
A Sea King helicopter from RAF Valley on Anglesey searched all three locations and finally found the men in the gully on Carnedd Llewelyn and airlifted the pair from the mountainside.
