Members of a mountain rescue team in Gwynedd say “it is time for a serious conversation” with the public after 59 call-outs in August and a dramatic rise in calls since 2020.

Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team has taken to social media in desperation following the incredibly busy month for their volunteers and a massive increase in the number of calls being made to the them over the last six years.

They have jumped from 147 call-outs in 2020 to 359 in 2025, and a whopping 440 calls are expected for 2026.

“This trend is not sustainable”, a spokesperson for the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team said.

Posting a statement on social media, the rescue team said: “After 59 call-outs in August, the busiest month in our history, we think it is time for a serious conversation about what is happening in our mountains.

“Our volunteers carried out prolonged rescues in darkness and poor weather, dealt with serious injuries, heat-related issues, assisted people stuck in serious terrain and, sadly, attended incidents where people and animals lost their lives.

What concerns us most is the increasing number of people taking on difficult terrain while completely unprepared for what they are facing.

“The mountains have not suddenly become more dangerous. More people are visiting them, and the way routes are discovered and accessed has changed.

“Routes once mainly attempted by experienced hillwalkers and mountaineers are increasingly attracting people with little or no experience.

“A photograph or video of Crib Goch can make an exposed Grade 1 scramble look like just another route to the summit. What it doesn’t show is how intimidating that ridge can be in cloud, rain or strong winds or how quickly a manageable situation can become a serious emergency.

“We want people to enjoy Eryri. We understand the physical and mental health benefits of spending time in the mountains but accidents happen, even to experienced, well-prepared people. That is why we volunteer.

“But enjoying the mountains also comes with personal responsibility. Too often, people simply don’t know that a route may require specific skills, equipment, fitness, experience and judgement and how quickly conditions can change.

“Our callout numbers tell the story:

147 in 2020

237 in 2021

233 in 2022

308 in 2023

327 in 2024

359 in 2025

“Around 440 projected in 2026.

“This trend is not sustainable.

“The answer cannot simply be more Mountain Rescue. “There has to be greater focus on prevention and personal responsibility.

“We will always respond when someone genuinely needs our help. The bigger question now is: how do we stop so many people from needing help in the first place?

“Enjoy the mountains but please try to understand the environment you are entering and if the terrain or conditions don’t feel right, turn around.”

At the time of writing this story, the post had received support from thousands of people, garnering 21,600 reactions, 1,800 comments and 5,700 shares.

Comments supporting the team suggest YouTube and TikTok are to blame for many people tackling our mountains without proper equipment and preparation.