Mountain rescuers in Wales are warning that the rising number of emergencies in Eryri, also known as Snowdonia, is becoming unsustainable as more visitors take on challenging routes without adequate preparation.
Llyn (Lake) Idwal and the peak of Pen yr Ole Wen in the distance, Snowdonia National Park/By: Alan Novelli/Getty Images
August was the busiest month on record for the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, with volunteers responding to 59 emergencies in the mountain region, according to BBC News.
The number of annual callouts has also climbed sharply in recent years. The team carried out 147 rescues in 2020, rising to 308 in 2023 and 359 in 2025. It expects the figure to reach around 440 callouts in 2026.
More visitors, more rescues
The increase has prompted the volunteer rescue team to call for greater awareness and personal responsibility among people heading into the mountains.
The team said the mountains themselves have not become more dangerous. Instead, more people are visiting, while social media and online route information have changed how visitors discover and approach challenging terrain.
Some routes that were once primarily tackled by experienced hikers and mountaineers are now attracting people with little or no experience.
One example is Crib Goch, a narrow and exposed ridge on the route towards Yr Wyddfa, or Snowdon. Photos and videos can make the route appear like another straightforward way to reach the summit, but conditions can change quickly.
Cloud, rain and strong winds can make exposed sections considerably more difficult, while a route that appears manageable in good weather can become dangerous in poor conditions.
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Rescuers urge visitors to prepare
The Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team said its volunteers faced prolonged rescues in darkness and poor weather during August, as well as serious injuries and heat-related incidents.
They also assisted people who became stuck in difficult terrain and attended incidents in which people and animals died.
The team, which has been operating for about 60 years, said the growing number of callouts was “not sustainable”.
Rather than simply increasing the number of mountain rescue operations, it is calling for greater emphasis on prevention and preparation.
The message is not that visitors should avoid the mountains. Instead, hikers are being encouraged to understand the terrain they are taking on, check conditions before setting out and make sure their experience and equipment match the route.
Social media can hide the risks
The rescue team also highlighted the role of social media in encouraging people to attempt increasingly difficult routes.
Images and short videos often show dramatic ridges and summits in ideal conditions, without conveying how exposed or intimidating they can feel in poor weather.
A route that looks spectacular on a sunny day can be a very different proposition when visibility drops or strong winds move across the ridge.
For visitors exploring Eryri, the warning is a reminder that popular mountain routes still require careful planning, even when they are widely photographed and frequently shared online.
As the rescue team put it, enjoying the mountains also comes with personal responsibility.
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