At around 9:30 p.m. on Tues 21st June, call handlers from Aberdyfi Search & Rescue Team were made aware of a sheep-dog trapped on a narrow ledge on the fringes of Cader Idris.
The dog, Tim, had been helping bring a small flock of sheep down off the mountain, but on reaching the gate to the farm gate the Shepherd found that the dog was missing. A long search of the bracken-covered hillside ensued, and Tim was eventually located on a narrow ledge on the vertical sides of a small river gully.
Given the late hour and failing light, the difficult decision was made that, for the safety of Team volunteers, the rescue attempt would be held-off until the following morning.
Many of those involved, from the owner through to every dog-owning Team member and beyond, had a restless night thinking of Tim on his ledge, and were keen to get up the hill the following morning. In less than perfect weather, the Team set about rigging a rope-rescue system, and a rescuer was lowered down to Tim's position.
Tim, having presumably spent a fairly unpleasant evening on the tiniest of ledges, was not overly welcoming to the stranger in the red-jacket dangling down before him, but with a bit of time and patience he was won over enough to be fitted into a harness and loaded into the stock-bag for lifting back up the crag where he was reunited with his owner.
Team Member Graham O'Hanlon attended the rescue. "We as a Team rely on the support and forbearance of our farming community to get on with the task of rescues, so it is always good when we can return the favour. We use this particular farm as a training venue from time to time, so it makes it especially nice to be able to help them out."
The dog, Tim, had been helping bring a small flock of sheep down off the mountain, but on reaching the gate to the farm gate the Shepherd found that the dog was missing. A long search of the bracken-covered hillside ensued, and Tim was eventually located on a narrow ledge on the vertical sides of a small river gully.
Given the late hour and failing light, the difficult decision was made that, for the safety of Team volunteers, the rescue attempt would be held-off until the following morning.
Many of those involved, from the owner through to every dog-owning Team member and beyond, had a restless night thinking of Tim on his ledge, and were keen to get up the hill the following morning. In less than perfect weather, the Team set about rigging a rope-rescue system, and a rescuer was lowered down to Tim's position.
Tim, having presumably spent a fairly unpleasant evening on the tiniest of ledges, was not overly welcoming to the stranger in the red-jacket dangling down before him, but with a bit of time and patience he was won over enough to be fitted into a harness and loaded into the stock-bag for lifting back up the crag where he was reunited with his owner.
Team Member Graham O'Hanlon attended the rescue. "We as a Team rely on the support and forbearance of our farming community to get on with the task of rescues, so it is always good when we can return the favour. We use this particular farm as a training venue from time to time, so it makes it especially nice to be able to help them out."
