People are being warned not to put themselves at risk to get the perfect Instagram photo at a beauty spot.
The Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team issued the warning amid the start of the Easter holidays after being called to rescue a group of three climbers from Dinorwig slate quarries in Gwynedd, North Wales, on March 25. Two members of the group became stuck after scrambling to an area of the quarry that's been described as "hideous" and "harrowing" by experienced rock climbers.
The charity said in a statement on Facebook: "The party had made their way to a quarry hole known as Sinc Galed (climbers know this area as California). With no set plan in mind they decided to scramble to the top of the eastern wall of the quarry hole up towards Pen Garret.
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"This is an area of the quarry that even experienced rock climbers have avoided, being described as 'hideous' and 'harrowing'. While attempting to ascend this wall two members of the party became stuck on an unstable ledge around 35m from the top of the cliff and decided, wisely, to call for help."
Twelve people from the rescue team were deployed to the top of the cliff, where one team member was lowered to rescue the casualties and secure them on the ledge. The climbers were lifted to safety using a two-line hauling system but the incident has sparked a plea from the rescue team who said slate quarries in north Wales have seen an "upsurge" in visitors over recent years, North Wales Live reports.
The charity added: "While we understand the urge to explore such historic manmade landscapes there are increasing concerns at both the volume and nature of trips being made into these dangerous places... Unseen hazards can pose a considerable risk to rescuers or emergency services personnel called to assist persons in difficulty in these areas."
With it being the start of the Easter holidays for schools across the country, the team has asked people to be wary of slate quarries' decades-old buildings, railways, and ladders which are "in various states of rust and decay". These structures are often found above precipitous drops and can collapse at any time, adding: "No Instagram story is worth the level of risk that some people are unwittingly taking."
The team is also aware of social media meet-up groups exploring quarries with "unqualified and inexperienced" leaders. It was advised people joining such groups to check the qualifications and experience of leaders before participating.
They added: "The quarries and similar sites have recently received considerable media and press coverage, some extolling the adventures to be had here, which has encouraged unprepared and inexperienced people to explore these potentially very dangerous places.
"These articles can encourage the unwary into dangerous areas. [We] would always encourage inexperienced people to gain advice from professional and qualified leaders and instructors."
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