No

Is this Fake News? Surely this must be misreporting?

If the quotes are correct then shame on Snowdonia National Park and shame on George Jones of LLanberis Mountain Rescue Team.

I cannot believe that mountaineers and mountaineering are being so misrepresented by supposedly fellow mountaineers.

Llanberis Team will not get a penny more of my money until the statement, attributed to George Jones, is denounced as misreporting or otherwise withdrawn.

It is crucial that mountaineers acknowledge that climbing, mountaineering and skiing are activities with a danger of injury and death, and that participants must be responsible for their own actions and involvement.

Risk management is a dynamic process and it is vital that participants take responsibility for their own choice of route.

Blanket statements that assume that every other mountaineer's ability to mitigate risk by careful route choice is less capable than than the seemingly self appointed mountain police in the Park or Authority or Rescue Team sell short the basic principal by which we all choose to accept responsibility for activities with an ever present risk of injury and death.

Rescue Teams, if the location, place or time of a rescue impose more risk on individuals in a team than they would be prepared to accept as part of their own involvement in the sport, then you are not obliged to go out to rescue. To quote T Jones of a nearby parish, 'there is no right of rescue.'

I would say, given the method of your funding, that you are obliged to properly represent mountaineers and mountaineering.

Our interests are not at all served by simplistic, over bearing, unrealistic, blanket statements about your own perceptions of risk thresholds, and ability to mitigate risks in dynamic environments.

The sections of the story stating that Llanberis MRT supported the authority's position, along with the quotes from George Jones, have been removed from the story at the team's request.
Llanberis MRT said the the quotes, contained in a release from Snowdonia NPA, do not represent the team's position.
Bob Smith, editor

The team never made that statement. If you look at the Facebook post from the callout on Tuesday all the team has said is that conditions are difficult so make sure you have the skills, equipment and knowledge if you are venturing out.

Grough reported the original Snowdonia National Park Authority press release accurately.

We subsequently removed the reference to Llanberis MRT and the quotes from George Jones at the request of a member of the team who contacted us saying the release did not represent the team’s views.

The statement Ms Howe refers to was carried in part in our report of the incident involving a climber who was avalanched earlier this week: “Lee slopes now have significant snow accumulation and windslab is developing. More snow is forecast and the temperature is set to remain cold. Consolidation is unlikely in the next few days.

“Enjoy the snow, make good decisions.

“Snowdon in winter is a very different proposition and you should always carry additional warm clothing together with crampons and ice-axe which are essential items if the routes to the summit are covered in ice or snow.

“Batteries don’t like the cold so you should consider carrying spares and not rely too heavily on electronic mapping or phone as your only method of navigation. Low-tech is good so carry a compass and paper map and have the knowledge of how to use them.

“Please check the up-to-date mountain weather forecast and conditions. Current conditions reports can be found by following ‘Eryri Warden Report’ on Twitter or checking the mountain weather forecasts provided by the Met Office and BBC Wales News.”

For readers’ information, the original national park authority press release is below, in English and Welsh.

Bob Smith
Editor.

Calling on mountaineers to stay away from Snowdonia’s snowy peaks

Snowdonia National Park Authority Wardens are asking mountaineers to stay off the slopes of Snowdon and other peaks in Snowdonia while the snowy conditions continue.

Snowdon has been under a cover of snow for a while now, but the recent spell of snow showers means that the conditions on the mountain are now extreme. The first layer of snow has now frozen and compacted, and with the accumulation of fresh snow there is a high likelihood of avalanches.

In these conditions mountaineers should stay off the slopes of Snowdon and other peaks until the Met Office’s red warning for snow conditions, which is the most severe warning, has been downgraded. Once conditions have improved, anyone who ventures onto the hills must have the appropriate experience and skills and all the necessary equipment.

For those unfamiliar with the mountain the paths are very difficult to navigate, and one wrong step could prove fatal. If walkers are not wearing appropriate clothing that can withstand such cold and harsh conditions, hypothermia is an additional threat.

Adam Daniel, the Snowdonia National Park Authority’s Head of Wardens Service stated:

“Although Snowdonia’s snow-covered mountains are very pretty to look at, conditions on the ground itself is extremely dangerous. We kindly ask those who are thinking about going out in these conditions to seriously consider if they are willing to put their own lives and others’ at risk.”

Over the past few days the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team have been called out several times to rescue walkers who have found themselves in difficulties on Snowdon. Team members are volunteers who risk their own lives every time they go out on a rescue mission.

George Jones, Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team Secretary explained:

“As a team of volunteers we have faced very challenging conditions over the past few days on rescue missions on Snowdon. Unstable snow drifts means that call-outs are complex and challenging. More snow is forecast and we kindly ask you not to venture out on the mountain until conditions have improved.”

The National Park Authority provides a ground condition monitoring service on Snowdon. Information can be accessed by following the bilingual @snowdonweather Twitter account, or the same information is available on the Mountain Weather section of the Met Office website

Galw ar fynyddwyr i gadw draw o fynyddoedd eiraog Eryri

Mae Wardeiniaid Awdurdod Parc Cenedlaethol yn galw ar fynyddwyr i gadw oddi ar lethrau’r Wyddfa a chopaon uchel eraill Eryri tra bod yr amodau gaeafol eithafol yn parhau.

Mae gorchudd eira wedi bod dros yr Wyddfa ers sbel bellach, ond mae’r cawodydd eira diweddaraf wedi golygu bod yr amodau yno yn eithafol erbyn hyn. Mae’r haen isaf o eira cyntaf bellach wedi cywasgu a rhewi, ac eira mwy ffres wedi ymgasglu ar ei ben gan gynyddu’r tebygolrwydd o eirlithrad.

Yn yr amodau yma dylid cadw oddi ar yr Wyddfa a’r copaon uchel eraill nes bydd rhybudd coch eira y Swyddfa Dywydd, sef y rhybudd mwyaf llym, wedi ei israddio. Unwaith bydd yr amodau wedi gwella, bydd gofyn i unrhyw un sydd am fentro allan fod ȃ’r profiad ar gallu priodol yn ogystal ȃ’r holl gyfarpar angenrheidiol.

Mae’r llwybrau eu hunain yn anodd iawn i’w dilyn, a gall un cam anghywir fod yn angheuol. Os nad yw cerddwyr yn gwisgo dillad sy’n gallu gwrthsefyll amodau mor oer yna mae hypothermia yn fygythiad ychwanegol.

Meddai Adam Daniel, Pennaeth Wardeiniaid Awdurdod Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri:

“Er bod mynyddoedd eiraog Eryri yn edrych yn hardd dros ben, mae’r amodau ar y ddaear ei hun yn hynod beryglus. Gofynnwn yn garedig i rai sy’n meddwl mynd allan yn yr amodau yma i ystyried o ddifrif a ydynt yn fodlon peryglu eu bywydau eu hunain ac eraill.”

Dros y dyddiau diwethaf mae Tîm Achub Mynydd Llanberis wedi cael eu galw allan sawl gwaith i achub cerddwyr sydd wedi mynd i drafferthion ar yr Wyddfa. Gwirfoddolwyr yw aelodau’r tîm sy’n peryglu eu bywydau eu hunain bob tro y byddant yn mynd allan ar ymgyrch achub.

Meddai George Jones, Ysgrifennydd Tîm Achub Mynydd Llanberis:

“Rydym fel tîm o wirfoddolwyr wedi wynebu amodau heriol iawn yn ddiweddar gyda galwadau am gymorth ar yr Wyddfa. Mae’r lluwchfeydd o eira ansefydlog yn golygu bod galwadau’n gymhleth a heriol. Mae’r rhagolygon yn gado mwy o eira a gofynnwn i chi’n garedig i beidio mentro allan ar y mynydd nes bydd yr amodau wedi gwella.”

Mae Awdurdod y Parc Cenedlaethol yn darparu gwasanaeth adrodd ar yr amodau dan draed ar y mynydd. Gellir cael gafael ar yr wybodaeth yma trwy ddilyn cyfrif trydar dwyieithog @snowdonweather, neu mae’r un wybodaeth ar gael yn yr adran Mountain Weather ar wefan y Swyddfa Dywydd.

Thanks Bob. That is a relief. It must be very hard for the rescue team volunteers to stay on top of their own media image, a thankless task in addition of their core commitments. I am truly thankful for all their efforts.

You might also find that some under journalistic scrutiny, Adam Daniel, of Snowdonia National Park Authority, also admits he has over reached his position and would like to withdraw his statement.

Shame on him if he doesn't climb down from his coddling, over bearing sense of self importance.

Suitable penance from the National Park might come in the form of a press release on the importance of self reliance and personal responsibility and the great value that lies therein. Recognition of the inherent risk(of injury and death, to you or your companions) and responsibility for that risk is the fundamental tenant by which we all participate as mountaineers. Adam Daniel, if he has any inclination towards the appreciation of our high places must now cede at least this much.

We should all guard and protect the right to take risk, and statements such as the National Park have released should be given the short shrift they deserve.

The what, when, why, with whom interrogatives of our mountaineering choices are personal prerogatives that we should greatly value and defend. This is especially true against the restrictive bureaucrats who know nothing of the satisfaction and joy of a hard day(or night) out, on the tops, in the wild weather, in peril and with the best of company(or even if that is just out on your onsie)

Hi all,

I can confirm that Bob kindly redacted the story at our request.

LLMRT do not support the statement issued by SNPA and we hope that this story will be clarified by SNPA very soon.

We have a close and constructive relationship with SNPA through the MountainSafe and Adventure Smart Wales partnerships and we wholeheartedly support any safety messages which are promoted through those groups.

Best regards,

LLMRT

LLMRT, Thank you for taking the time to respond. At the risk of sounding pedantic, Maybe the team's cause isn't helped by the terminology you have aligned yourself with.

MountainSafe is surely an oxymoron and one that is at loggerheads with the fundamentals expressed by the participation statement!

I don't know if Adam Daniel is a mountaineer. In the light of his statement, I rather hope not. But given the confusing terminology I can see how misunderstandings might arise.

MountainSafe implies, to the outsider, that mountains can be rendered safe. Training, procedures, planning maybe even the imposition of restrictions( as in in Adam Daniels' original statement) might be thought to make mountains and mountaineering safe.
In the context of the participation statement this is a mixed message. Those gathered here will know that mountains are not managed environments and cannot be made safe. Certainly mountains cannot be made 'safe' in the general public's understanding of that word.

We can take all precautions, carefully quantify our own level of risk acceptance but there will remain factors that we cannot mitigate against.
We can tell ourselves that our skills and experience will see us through, yet most of us remember friends for who, despite identical self-assurances, the 'happiness of a lifetime' has been destroyed.

I realize I am telling my grandmother how to suck eggs, preaching to the choir.

I can see how the title MountainSafe might serve a certain, divergent agenda. I can't for the life of me, see why anyone would join those terms if their prime aim was to make clear the mortal risks, and the requirement for individual responsibility(skills, experience, equipment etc) for that risk.

I'm not suggesting skull and crossbones, or a woe be dragons strap line, but as a covering title MountainSafe is surely unhelpful and misleading.

Back in the 1970s a Scottish Chief Constable declared that the hills were closed, because of avalanche risk.

Bill Murray put that gentleman back in his place.

Commercial interests, governing bodies and government seem to be in a dilemma between heavily promoting the activity as a sport, while at the same time having to regularly remind people that it is in fact, unlike most sports, a dangerous activity.

Reinhold Messner said: "I go to the wild mountains where I am responsible for myself. Step by step I am making sure that I don't die. Climbing is not a sport, all mountains are dangerous."

It will be impossible to keep adventures away from mountains even in extreme conditions such as this debate has highlighted. I myself will be in Snowdonia tomorrow and will choose my route accordingly based on skill, knowledge, weather, fitness etc . I have been mountaineering here since I was 14 yrs old (62 Now) and seen many extreme winters along with the obvious winter risks. It is essential to be able to take care of yourself in these conditions along with the skills, kit to self rescue if required.
All said thank god for mountain rescue.

best regards
Mike Harvey

He was good in ghostbusters aswell

'A hill or route itself is not dangerous . . . but a particular hill or route may be dangerous for a particular person.'

I am sure most of us have been near the summit of snowdon after using crampons and still seen people with normal footwear on.
Usually it is caused when the snow has melted at the starting point and they dont realise the difference at altitude.
The most important ability to have is to be able to decide to turn back if conditions are not safe. I have at least twice in the winter.
If feel, for the rescue team having to go and help people in dangerous conditions when they should have had the sense to have turned back earlier.
I can see what this article was for, and who it was for and hopefully they will stay away leaving the mountains for the experienced ones that won't need rescuing.
Personally, even with an ice axe and crampons, I would give it a miss this weekend. They won't help in an avalanche!