Rescuers who helped climbers stranded at a dangerous Welsh quarry hole have issued a warning over the search for a perfect Instagram shot. The Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team were called to Dinorwig slate quarries in Gwynedd at 1pm on March 25 after a group of three visited the spot and two of the climbers got stuck.
The charity posted on Facebook: "The party had made their way to a quarry hole known as Sinc Galed (climbers know this area as California). With no set plan in mind they decided to scramble to the top of the eastern wall of the quarry hole up towards Pen Garret. This is an area of the quarry that even experienced rock climbers have avoided, being described as 'hideous' and 'harrowing'.
"While attempting to ascend this wall two members of the party became stuck on an unstable ledge around 35m from the top of the cliff and decided, wisely, to call for help. Twelve team members were deployed to the top of the cliff in the Pen Garret area. From here a single team member was lowered on a rope to the casualties’ location to secure them on the ledge."
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The climbers were lifted to safety using a two-line hauling system but the incident has sparked a plea from the rescue team who said slate quarries in north Wales have seen an "upsurge" in visitors over recent years. "While we understand the urge to explore such historic manmade landscapes there are increasing concerns at both the volume and nature of trips being made into these dangerous places... Unseen hazards can pose a considerable risk to rescuers or emergency services personnel called to assist persons in difficulty in these areas."
With the Easter holiday approaching the team has asked people to be wary of slate quarries' decades-old buildings, railways, and ladders which are "in various states of rust and decay". They said these structures are often found above precipitous drops and can collapse at any time, adding: "No Instagram story is worth the level of risk that some people are unwittingly taking."
The team are also aware of social media meet-up groups exploring quarries with "unqualified and inexperienced" leaders. They advised people joining such groups to check the qualifications and experience of leaders before participating.
"The quarries and similar sites have recently received considerable media and press coverage, some extolling the adventures to be had here, which has encouraged unprepared and inexperienced people to explore these potentially very dangerous places," they added. "These articles can encourage the unwary into dangerous areas. [We] would always encourage inexperienced people to gain advice from professional and qualified leaders and instructors."
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