Climber ‘walked like a canine’ off knife-edge ridge as influencers warned to not affect

A mountain rescue team has urged social media influencers to exercise more caution when posting photos of perilous climbs. The Llanberis team faced backlash for sharing a video of a rescue from Yr Wyddfa’s infamous Crib Goch knife-edge ridge.

Some criticised the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) for showing a casualty being “walked on a lead like a dog” as he was confidence-roped off Crib Goch. Citics argued that such “embarrassing” rescue videos could discourage others from seeking help in the mountains.

However, many climbers and walkers praised the overworked team for shedding light on how some influencers glamorise locations without fully acknowledging the risks. Simultaneously, there are concerns that blaming influencers might absolve individuals of their duty to be fully equipped and prepared before venturing into the mountains.

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Last year, Llanberis MRT responded to a record 300 emergency callouts, three times the number 15 years ago. By mid-September this year, call-outs had reached 246.

Many were on Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), which now attracts over 600,000 visitors annually. Addressing influencers, partly blamed for fuelling this trend, the team asked: “Have you ever considered that what you post on social media could have a direct affect on the risks people take in the mountains?” reports North Wales Live.

Crib Goch’s cliffs are luring daredevil Instagrammers with its snapping-worthy peaks, as they rush to share frosty sunrise snaps and winter walk clips online. But what these pics don’t show is the sheer terror and devastating fatalities that have occurred on this treacherous ridge.

After a hairy rescue on Crib Goch’s east side, the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team issued a stark warning: “The danger of descending on this section of the ridge with a casualty poses great risk due to the nature of the terrain, unrelenting weather conditions and the rope work methods that have to be deployed for a safe descent. The risk to team members is considerable.”

Hailed as heroes by many, the courageous team also challenged social media savvy mountaineers with some soul-searching questions. Their heart-pounding post revved up debate across the web, with seasoned hikers lambasting “clueless Insta influencers” for tempting ill-equipped adventurers into perilous territory.

Meanwhile, some voiced that it’s every climber’s responsibility to know their limits. An Instagram regular argued that mountain rescuers aren’t there to monitor the internet’s wild frontiers.

She remarked: “It isn’t the fault of anyone on social media that someone has an accident on Tryfan because they saw someone’s post and decided to venture out. I do agree we all have a responsibility to encourage safety when outdoors. We also have a responsibility not to mislead or encourage dangerous behaviours. But that doesn’t mean someone shouldn’t post about their grade 3 scrambling day and expect to be responsible for others that foolishly decide to do the same with no prior experience.”

Meanwhile, one bloke argued that since “Influencers influence”, they should by definition take care to ensure their followers’ safety by doling out savvy advice. Another hiker recalled witnessing an influencer leading a group up Tryfan Bach, which he likened to “waiting for an accident to happen”.

After making a point to view the resulting video, he noted: “It was nicely edited but didn’t include the bit where one of them panicked half way up and nearly fell to his death.”

Park rangers have previously slammed Instagrammers for drawing overwhelming crowds to Eryri, while influencers are under fire for making beauty spots look more glamorous than reality, often misleading those who see it on social media.

Mountain rescue teams are frequently left to deal with the aftermath, despite stretched resources and increasing financial strains. Many empathise with their plight.

“It’s got to be at least a little frustrating climbing out of a warm bed to go rescue anyone,” one bloke commented. “Especially someone who bit off more than they could chew because it looked ‘easy’ on Instagram! ” Most hikers and climbers prepare adequately for the mountains, but even the best equipped can still find themselves in trouble.

The shorts-and-trainers crowd irk all mountain rescuers, as do those who overestimate their capabilities or underestimate the conditions. Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation recently criticised walkers who were “very lucky” to survive after ignoring a snow warning.

However, a video shared by Llanberis MRT also faced backlash. Some claimed it was “tilted” to make the rescue appear “more extreme”.

Others argued that posting rescue videos online could backfire. “Poor man,” a user said, referring to the casualty.

“Can’t they get a dog instead? ” Another concurred: “Could this potentially discourage someone from calling for help? Out of fear of being plastered online while being led down Cribby like a dog?”

“Doggy leading”, as it’s been dubbed by one hiker, is a common tactic for those who bottle it on steep inclines or find themselves in a pickle beyond their skill set.

In defence of influencers, some are specialists with large followings who welcome the advice and expertise they provide. There have been calls for non-specialists to undertake formal training in mountain climbing. In reality, said one woman, many outdoors influencers already take courses. “I know of many who are actively training to be leaders,” she said.

Llanberis MRT’s volunteers are on-call 24 hours a day year-round. To save lives, they rely entirely on donations and fundraising – you can find out how here.

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