MRT Warnings After Snowdon Deaths

The death of two brothers from Bristol on Snowdon on Sunday has prompted a warning from Mountain Rescue Teams in the area.

The pair apparently fell around 200 metres after what may have been a slip on relatively straightforward ground led them to slide over the 200-meter cliff of Clogwyn Coch.


Wales Online quotes Ian Henderson of Llanberis Moutain Rescue Team as saying:

“This ridge would have been dangerous because of the deposits of snow which would have covered the path and train line. It may have looked liked a gentle slope but once someone slips they can slide quickly over the snow and gradually build up speed.

"This then leads over Clogwyn Coch and a drop of more than 200m. This is one theory we are looking at. In those conditions, anyone who hasn’t got ice axes or isn’t wearing crampons is at great risk."

According to the BBC, Henderson described the two men as 'reasonably well equipped' but continued:

"I would strongly recommend that people without a lot of experience and the right equipment don't venture on to the mountain. If people are at all unsure they should stay away. More heavy snow is forecast on the mountain."

Hazardous Mountain

Snowdon has a reputation for being a risky place in winter conditions, something underlined whe two more walkers had to be winched to safety from the exposed ridge of Crib Goch on Monday.

The problem is that what is exposed but straightforward ground in normal conditions becomes serious winter mountaineering terrain under snow and ice requiring specialist skills and equipment and the jagged nature of much of the mountain means that big drops are never far away, so a minor slip can easily result in a big fall.

Winter conditions blur the line between walking and mountaineering and it's very easy to find yourself in a more serious position than you anticipated.

Our sympathies to friends and family. Be careful out there.