Mountain rescuers are saving novice walkers having panic attacks: Social media is blamed for encouraging Gen-Z explorers to tackle hiking challenges they're not prepared for By Emily Jane Davies Published: 10:48, 22 July 2024 | Updated: 10:56, 22 July 2024 e-mail View comments Mountain rescuers have issued a warning after constantly trudging up to rescue hikers suffering panic attacks. Tryfan - a mountain in the Ogwen Valley, in Eryri (Snowdonia) - literally translates into 'very high peak' in English. It's one of the most recognisable peaks in Britain - but amateur mountaineers who undertake the trek are freezing up at the daunting height.
This means the Ogwen Valley mountain rescue team has dealt with rescues involving 'a number of panic attacks' recently. Locals have blamed social media for encouraging Gen-Z explorers to tackle hiking challenges they're not prepared for. It comes after Eryri rangers told people to stop posting about the mountain range last year as they struggled to cope with the influx of visitors after the pandemic.
TikTokers are sharing videos encouraging others to tackle steep climbs in Snowdonia - but novice walkers have been shocked by its difficulty Locals have blamed social media for encouraging Gen-Z explorers to tackle hiking challenges they're not prepared for There has been an influx of TikTokers filming climbing mountains and encouraging others Tryfan is one of the most most recognisable peaks in Britain. But amateur mountaineers who trek up the mountain are freezing up at the daunting height Tryfan - a mountain in the Ogwen Valley, in Eryri (Snowdonia) - literally translates into 'very high peak' in English Ogwen Valley mountain rescue team has been called out 96 times this year. Read More TikTokkers destroying our beauty spots: Posing on cliffs and beaches and fighting on Snowdonia - 'idiot' influencers descend on holiday destinations The latest operation involved saving a walker who was unable to move near the summit of Tryfan because they were having a panic attack.
The volunteer group said it had attended a number of similar incidents recently. On July 12, it rescued a group of four who were stuck 600ft from the top and helped them climb down. Posting a message to visitors, the organisation said: 'The team have dealt with a number of panic attacks on Tryfan recently.
'Tryfan has considerable exposure with lots of climbing over or around ridges and edges. Will any of you be overly-affected by this? 'Tryfan is difficult to navigate over in a traditional manner, especially in poor weather. Are you able to navigate and relate map to ground?' Walkers having a break by a track in Ogwen Valley with the view to Mount Tryfan Crowds of walkers queue to reach Snowdon's summit after social media There has been a surge in visitors to the national park, in part encouraged by widespread social media posts about the area 'There is no straight line to the car park – don't be tempted to descend gullies just because you can see the valley floor.
' Some walkers have slipped to their death in the past, or got stuck descending gullies, believing them to be the path back down. Read More EXCLUSIVE How hordes of TikTokers and staycationers are descending on Snowdonia to find a 'secret quarry' In May, a man walking with his two brothers died while hiking on Tryfan as he fell to his death on the Y-Gully section. A father believed to be from Exeter and in his early 60s also fell while in the North Gully and sadly died in 2017, while out climbing with his daughter.
He fell a 'considerable' distance and was airlifted to hospital but was declared dead. It follows a surge in visitors to the national park, in part encouraged by widespread social media posts about the area. In August 2021, there was a huge surge in climbers which led to a 45-minute queue at the summit.
Many were believed to be staycationers looking for adventures at home after Covid travel rules ruined foreign holidays for families. The trend has continued as Instagram users seek to emulate perfect pictures from dangerous mountains and beauty spots. Some of the most Instagrammable locations are off the beaten track - with nature chiefs claiming previously unheard-of footfall is causing erosion to the natural landscape.
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