When a day in the mountains doesn’t go to plan
For most of us, heading into the mountains means freedom, fresh air and adventure. But sometimes a great day outdoors can change very quickly. When it does, volunteer mountain rescue teams are there—often in difficult terrain, poor conditions and for many hours at a time.
Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team (OVMRT) recently shared just how demanding this summer has been. During the summer holidays alone, the team was called for help 36 times, resulting in 25 deployments.
Those incidents ranged from overdue walkers and separated groups to people lost or stuck on steep ground and serious falls. Some casualties suffered life-changing injuries, creating significant challenges for the volunteers treating them and getting them safely to further medical care. Several incidents lasted nine hours or more.
Behind those statistics are people whose ordinary day outdoors suddenly became an emergency—and volunteers who stopped what they were doing to go and help them.
Rescue is only part of the story
The work of mountain rescue teams is rightly associated with finding, treating and evacuating people in trouble. But there is another enormously important part of keeping people safe in the outdoors: education and prevention.
More people enjoying our mountains and countryside is something to celebrate. Spending time outdoors can bring enormous benefits to our physical and mental wellbeing. But enjoying these places safely means understanding the environment we are entering.
Good preparation doesn’t remove every risk. Accidents can happen to experienced mountaineers as well as first-time visitors. But knowing how to plan a route, check the weather, carry appropriate clothing and equipment, navigate, recognise when conditions are changing and make the decision to turn back can all make a difference.
Supporting mountain rescue therefore isn’t only about supporting teams when something has already gone wrong. It’s also about helping create a culture in which people have the knowledge and confidence to enjoy the outdoors responsibly.
Come and hear from OVMRT
On 3 October, our sister hotel The Waterloo is delighted to be hosting Eryri Fest’s talk by the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team.
It’s an opportunity to hear directly from the people behind the rescues: to learn more about what happens when a call for help comes in, the challenges teams are encountering on the mountains, and what all of us can do to help make days outdoors safer.
OVMRT summed up the spirit behind their work beautifully when reflecting on this summer: whatever had happened, every casualty was “having a bad day and needed help.”
That compassion is at the heart of mountain rescue. So too is the wider mountaineering community—OVMRT thanked the many members of the public who stopped to help others while out on adventures of their own.
As another busy season has demonstrated, these volunteer teams continue to be there when people need them. We can support them not only by valuing the rescues they undertake, but by listening to their experience, learning from it and sharing that knowledge with others.
Join us on 3 October to hear from OVMRT, learn more about their extraordinary work and find out how we can all play a part in creating safer experiences in the outdoors.
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