The woman became separated from her husband, both in their 70's while they were descending the Pony Path. The husband waited at Ty Nant, the bottom of the path, but after 1 1/2 hours had elapsed he raised the alarm.
North Wales Police officers and Mountain Rescue volunteers started coordinating a plan, and two passing walkers offered to keep an eye out for the woman as they made their way up the mountain to camp. The husband pointed out her last known position to the walkers and commented that she could have taken an alternative path heading down toward the youth hostel.
Having reached their proposed campsite, the two walkers dumped their equipment and decided to check this alternative route. They fortunately located the woman in a ditch, where she had fallen and injured her ribs. While one of the men stayed with the injured woman, the other descended the mountain to inform rescuers, and the lady was assisted down off the mountain.
Everyone was safely down off the mountain by 8:30 p.m., although the walkers then headed back up the mountain to get on with their camping trip.
Team spokesperson Graham O'Hanlon recognised the contribution made by the passing walkers; "We'd like to say thanks to a great pair of lads who selflessly gave of their time to help a fellow walker. Without their efforts we could have been looking at an entirely different outcome."