I am a member of the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team. The whole team is made up of volunteers who give up their free time to go to the aid of fellow climbers, walkers and mountaineers who are in trouble. We cover Snowdon and the Llanberis Pass and have an average of two call outs every week. The team has to raise its own funding and relies entirely on contributions made by the general public.

What sort of person is on the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team?
Mountain guides and instructors, teachers, plumbers, doctors, park wardens, builders, nuclear engineers and business consultants - all and more can be found in the team. All are skilled and experienced mountaineers. Turning out in all weathers, day or night, 365 days a year, they share a common purpose - to help anyone who is in trouble on the hills.

Where is the team based?
We use a small National Park building in the village of Nant Peris as our base. Our team Landrovers are parked in the Vaynol pub car park. The Vaynol are very supportive, often sending round urns of tea and providing food on late night call outs.

What is a typical reason for a call out?
The call outs that we attend are extremely varied. We get called out to help walkers who have become lost on the mountain, people who have made the error of heading out without a torch and then found themselves on the mountain in the dark, people that have injured themselves and unfortunately to several fatalaties each year. A large percentage of call outs can be put down to avoidable mistakes where if people had spent a bit of time planning and preparing for their time in the mountains they would not have needed to call us. It is not our job to judge the people that we rescue but we can learn from their mistakes.

How do I avoid needing to be rescued?
There are some simple steps that you can take to avoid being a Mountain Rescue Statistic:
1. Plan your route and know how long it will take.
2. Let someone know where you are going, when you will be back and what to do if you don't return
3. Know how to use a map and compass to navigate in all weather conditions
4. Check the weather forecast before you go. Know the effect the wind, temperature and precipitation will have on your day. Do you need winter gear? Do you know how to use it? Is it too windy to be on a ridge?
5. Carry the right gear. Know how much colder it will be on the summit. Can you sit out all night if you need to? Have you got a headtorch?
6. Invest in some skills. You can learn all of the above for half the price of a Goretex Jacket. Look at our hill skills and navigation course.

How to I call Mountain Rescue if I do need help?
Dial 999 and ask for Police.
Then ask for Mountain Rescue. Have an accurate position before you call and after the call leave your phone switched on as we will probably need to call you back.

How do I donate to Mountain Rescue?
You can donate directy to the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team here.

If you'd always thought you'd like to be involved in Mountain Rescue but didn't think you could, have a look at BaseCamp, the new National Supporters' Group for Mountain Rescue.

As a member of BaseCamp you will receive quarterly copies of the MR Magazine. This magazine will take you to the heart of what is happening in Mountain Rescue and, together with an enamel supporter's badge and a car sticker to promote their involvement by flying the flag. You can become a member of Base Camp here.