The East Ridge of Pen yr Ole Wen, with Tryfan in the distance. Photo: Espresso Addict CC-BY-SA-2.0

Rescuers from a Snowdonia mountain rescue team were kept busy with calls for help from walkers in difficulty.

The calls included a mystery 999 message from police in the Isle of Man who had picked up the mobile phone call.

Two walkers attempting the 15 Welsh 3,000ft peaks strayed on to steep and rocky ground while coming down from the Carneddau on Friday.

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation was alerted and went to the pair’s aid.

Chris Lloyd from the volunteer team said: “They had started from the North at Aber and had just about completed the Carneddau, when cloud and dusk caused a navigational error on Pen yr Ole Wen.

“They could have taken the steep and loose South Ridge descending straight down to Ogwen Cottage, or the easier East Ridge taking them down to the east end of Llyn Ogwen.

“Sadly, they wandered between the two onto very rough ground. Apart from losing the path, they lost confidence and made the correct decision to call for assistance.

“Two team members made their way up, finding them at about 11pm and were able to escort them down to the valley floor – having booked them into Idwal Cottage YHA.

“The two men who were in their 30s and 40s and from Nottinghamshire and Oxfordshire, were very well equipped as they were planning to camp on their three-day expedition.”

An induction day on Saturday for potential new members at the Ogwen Valley team was interrupted with a call for help from a woman on the South Ridge of Tryfan who was having a panic attack.

Mr Lloyd said: “Team members were deployed from our base and one member who was enjoying a day on the hill was diverted to the scene.

“Despite best efforts of team members, it was decided that it would be best for all if she was evacuated by 22 Squadron [the search and rescue helicopter crew from RAF Valley].”

The team was alerted that evening that Manx police had received a 999 call from a man who said he was lost on the northern end of the Carneddau.

They had passed on information to North Wales Police, but had lost the mobile signal from the walker before full details and phone number had been taken.

Mr Lloyd said: “Team members were not deployed due to insufficient information.”

The team’s final callout of the weekend came when a large group of Duke of Edinburgh’s Award gold teenagers were entering the Ogwen valley on Sunday evening from Llyn Cowlyd.

“Although the weather was still fine, the ground was boggy under foot,” Mr Lloyd said. “One 17-year-old from Sussex twisted his ankle when his foot went one way in a bog and his body went the other.

“He was in a lot of pain, so the mountain rescue team was called.

“At this stage the weather was deteriorating and darkness was upon us. The group was well organised. Once the team arrived, the remaining students and leaders were sent on to establish their campsite for the night, whilst the casualty was stretchered off.

“One of their leaders drove him to Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor for a check-up.”

The Ogwen Valley MRO has dealt with 93 incidents so far this year.