Just after midnight on Saturday morning, Aberdyfi Search & Rescue Team was made aware of a couple trapped in a snow-bound car on the B4931 between Llangynog and Bala. The motorists had ended up on the remote and narrow moorland road at the southern end of the Berwyn range by following SatNav instructions and became trapped in snow around 2:00 pm Friday;
one of a number of similar incidents around North Wales. Prior to ASARTs involvement in the incident, an attempt to reach the motorists by 4x4 had failed because of extensive drifting on the higher sections of road.
Following the call-out, it was decided that trying to walk the motorists off the hill in the dark would be more hazardous than leaving them in their car, and so volunteers from the team set out at 4:30 a.m. in what were very testing driving conditions, with the aim of reaching the motorists after dawn. Using a Snowdonia National Park Land Rover, and two 4x4s
belonging to team members, the rescue party made their way as far as possible up the closed road before proceeding on foot. Conditions on the moor were extremely difficult with high winds creating drifts above head height and engulfing the entire road. The stranded car was located at around 8:00 a.m., and the passengers, well equipped to sit out the storm in the car but not so ready for being outside, were provided with clothing in preparation for walking off the moorland. With drifting still a serious problem, progress was slow, and the team eventually delivered the weary motorist to Bala by about 10:30 a.m.
“It is another reminder of the need to apply some common sense when following SatNav instructions in a rural and mountainous area such as ours, especially with the prevailing weather conditions,” said ASART member Graham O’Hanlon. “Fortunately, these people were well enough prepared to sit out their ordeal in a degree of comfort, but it will be some days if not weeks before they see their car again.”
one of a number of similar incidents around North Wales. Prior to ASARTs involvement in the incident, an attempt to reach the motorists by 4x4 had failed because of extensive drifting on the higher sections of road.
Following the call-out, it was decided that trying to walk the motorists off the hill in the dark would be more hazardous than leaving them in their car, and so volunteers from the team set out at 4:30 a.m. in what were very testing driving conditions, with the aim of reaching the motorists after dawn. Using a Snowdonia National Park Land Rover, and two 4x4s
belonging to team members, the rescue party made their way as far as possible up the closed road before proceeding on foot. Conditions on the moor were extremely difficult with high winds creating drifts above head height and engulfing the entire road. The stranded car was located at around 8:00 a.m., and the passengers, well equipped to sit out the storm in the car but not so ready for being outside, were provided with clothing in preparation for walking off the moorland. With drifting still a serious problem, progress was slow, and the team eventually delivered the weary motorist to Bala by about 10:30 a.m.
“It is another reminder of the need to apply some common sense when following SatNav instructions in a rural and mountainous area such as ours, especially with the prevailing weather conditions,” said ASART member Graham O’Hanlon. “Fortunately, these people were well enough prepared to sit out their ordeal in a degree of comfort, but it will be some days if not weeks before they see their car again.”
