Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team (LMRT), one of the UK's busiest climbing spots, has criticised ill-prepared climbers after experiencing its busiest month ever. August saw 59 emergencies in Snowdonia, a record for the organisation, which was set up almost 60 years ago.
Annual callouts on the rise
Annual callouts have risen every year since crowds queued on the summit of Yr Wyddfa, or Snowdon, during the Covid lockdown. Volunteers carried out 147 rescues in 2020, rising to 308 in 2023 and 359 in 2025, with around 440 projected for 2026.
In a lengthy statement issued over the weekend, a spokesperson for the organisation said: "What concerns us most is the increasing number of people taking on difficult terrain while completely unprepared for what they are facing. The mountains have not suddenly become more dangerous. More people are visiting them, and the way routes are discovered and accessed has changed."
Concerns over unprepared visitors
They went on: "After 59 callouts in August, the busiest month in our history, we think it is time for a serious conversation about what is happening in our mountains. Our volunteers carried out prolonged rescues in darkness and poor weather, dealt with serious injuries, heat-related issues, assisted people stuck in serious terrain and, sadly, attended incidents where people and animals lost their lives."
"Routes once mainly attempted by experienced hillwalkers and mountaineers are increasingly attracting people with little or no experience. A photograph or video of Crib Goch can make an exposed Grade 1 scramble look like just another route to the summit."
Call for prevention and personal responsibility
The spokesperson for LMRT continued: "What it doesn't show is how intimidating that ridge can be in cloud, rain, or strong winds, or how quickly a manageable situation can become a serious emergency. We want people to enjoy Eryri. We understand the physical and mental health benefits of spending time in the mountains, but accidents happen, even to experienced, well-prepared people."
"That is why we volunteer, but enjoying the mountains also comes with personal responsibility. Too often, people simply don't know that a route may require specific skills, equipment, fitness, experience and judgement and how quickly conditions can change."
LMRT have published their callout numbers for the last six years, which tell the story: 2020 - 147, 2021 - 237, 2022 - 233, 2023 - 308, 2024 - 327, 2025 - 359, and 2026 - 440 (projected).
The LMRT spokesperson added: "This trend is not sustainable. The answer cannot simply be more mountain rescue volunteers. There has to be greater focus on prevention and personal responsibility. We will always respond when someone genuinely needs our help. The bigger question now is: 'how do we stop so many people from needing help in the first place?' Enjoy the mountains, but please try to understand the environment you are entering, and if the terrain or conditions don't feel right, turn around."
