The pair got into difficulties after separating on Tryfan's North Ridge. Photo: Terry Hughes CC-BY-SA-2.0

Mountain rescuers were called out to a pair of men scrambling on a Snowdonia mountain after each one phoned to say the other was missing.

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation was alerted at 1.30pm today when the pair, in their 30s and from Manchester, got into difficulties on the North Ridge of Tryfan.

The men attempted the ridge but found the wet and greasy rocks and low cloud making their progress difficult.

Chris Lloyd of the rescue team said: “Before reaching the summit, the two friends decided the best plan was to retreat the way they came. In the low cloud and rain they became separated somewhere above the Milestone Buttress. One of them found a steep gully to the West of the Buttress.

“With the Grace of God, he survived a less than controlled descent and was able to get to their car on the A5 road. His colleague, upon encountering the steep crags below his feet, decided to make the 999 call for assistance.”

Team members took the man who had reached the road to their rescue base to warm up and dry out while three rescuers made their way to the top of the Milestone Buttress.

Mr Lloyd said: “With the use of a spotter on the A5, the rescue party was guided to the man.

“He was walked off the mountain to be re-united with his ‘colleague’. After a chat with the team leader, they realised that perhaps their relatively lightweight clothing and boots were more suitable for a dry summer ramble rather than a wet and greasy scramble up this notorious ridge on a late autumnal day.”

Within half an hour of the Ogwen Valley team being called out, it received another alert from two walkers who said they were lost in low cloud and drizzle on Y Garn.

Mr Lloyd said: “They had left the Ogwen Valley and walked via Cwm Idwal and the Devil’s Kitchen, then up into the cloud-covered slopes of Y Garn along a distinctive footpath.

“They continued beyond the summit in the cloud and became disorientated. Using Sarloc to locate their mobile phone, the team leader was able to advise them that they were not on Y Garn but the next summit of Foel Goch.

“The safest escape from there was to descend to Nant Peris. The team leader kept in touch with them until they were safely on the road whereupon they had to make their own arrangements for getting back to their car in the Ogwen Valley.”

Both incidents ended shortly after 4pm.