A WALKER from Huddersfield was rescued from an ice-covered 500ft cliff on Snowdon.
The man in his 20s was found uninjured in the middle of a gale on the Welsh mountain.
He phoned for help on his mobile after becoming stuck below the mountain’s Crib Goch ridge.
An RAF Sea King rescue helicopter based at Valley on Anglesey plucked him to safety.
Rescuers said the man had not been wearing crampons although he did have an ice axe with him.
He had called for help at 9am on Sunday after setting off at 6.30am to scale the mountain.
He was intending to reach the summit but got into difficulties as conditions worsened.
A spokesman for Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, which turned out to help the walker, said although he had an ice axe he was not wearing crampons, and this caused him to lose his footing.
The rescue came only weeks after walkers were urged to stay away from dangerous mountain areas like Snowdon in bad weather.
The warning by North Wales Police followed a death and six rescue calls in one day on Snowdon.
North Wales Police and rescuers say only the experienced and properly equipped should tackle mountains during such weather.
A man of 27 from the Shrewsbury area was found dead on Snowdon last month. He was discovered at the spot where two brothers’ bodies were found days earlier.
Police and rescuers advised: “Only experienced climbers and walkers with axes and crampons and knowledge of their correct use should contemplate scaling mountain ranges in the current weather conditions.”
They also urged walkers to arrange with friends and family to ensure that if they were missing for any period, police and rescuers should be informed as soon as possible.
Walkers were also asked to carry a mobile phone, to tell others the route they plan to take and the vehicles they would use.
