Dec 1977 to May 1980 MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM DIARY VMRT 77-80 Comp.doc 1 NOTES 1 This Diary was transcribed by Dr. A. S. G. Jones between June and.October 2013 2 He has attempted to follow, as closely as possible, the lay-out of the actual entries in the Diary. 3 The first entry in this diary is dated 23rd December, 1977. The last entry is for 26th April, 1980. Entries from start to 6th May 1978 are typed. Subsequent entries are hand written by a varirty of scribes 4 There is considerable variation in spellings. He has attempted to follow the actual spelling in the Diary even where the Spell Checker has highlighted a word as incorrect. 5 The spelling of place names is a very variable feast as is the use of initial capital letters. He has attempted to follow the actual spellings in the Diary 6 Where there is uncertainty as to a word, its has been shown in italics 7 Where words or parts of words have been crossed out (corrected) they are shown with a strike through. 8 The diary is in a four ring binder. 9 It was apparent that the entries were written by number of different people 10 Sincere thanks to Alister Haveron for a detailed proof reading of the text. Any mistakes are the fault of Dr. A. S. G. Jones. VMRT 77-80 Comp.doc 2 RAF VALLEY MRT - CHRISTMAS GRANT 1977 - 23 DEC TO 3 JAN Forward Base: Bethesda Duty Team: Pibworth Illiffe Hulme Croker Walker Worsnop Hatton James Wathan Johnson Heaton Owen The Valley MRT spent the Christmas Grant at the Tyn-Twr Climbing Hut. The Grant passed with the Team being involved in an incident on Tryfan. Rescuing 2 crag fast climbers. Other days were spent in walking and even a visit to the climbing wall at Llangefni. Visitors to Base included: Marsden Howells Jones Pritchard Aldridge Wright Perkins Haveron RBDTOG DE RBDT T15/005/1018/093 VV WJAD70RI8035 UU RR RBDTOG DE RBDIRC 038 0050945 ZNR UUUUU R 050930Z JAN FM RCC EDINBURGH TO RBDWC/MODUK AIR RBDBYS/MODUK AIR HARROGATE RBDPGL/HQ 18 GP INFO RBDBYI/HQSTC RBDTQM/CSRSCH RBDTOG/RAF VALLEY MRT -003-C/R BT UNCLAS DIG KAO/LEV925 SAR FORM R622 DEC 77 A LAND RESCUE 28 DEC 77 B MARTIN ASPEY, AGE 21, 7C HAZEL GROVE, IRBY, WIRRAL. ANTHONY JOHN DOIG, AGE 35, 11 DALM HILL, OXTON BIRKENHEAD C 281615Z DEC D CLIMBERS STUCK ON CRAG E NORTH WALES POLICE F NORTH WALES POLICE G EDINBURGH RCC 282045Z PAGE 2 RBDIRC 038 UNCLAS H SHEET 115/645591 VMRT 77-80 Comp.doc 3 J LOCATED BY CIVILIANS AT 281625 K RESCUED BY ROPES, VALLY MRT WITH HELP FROM BRIDGEND CIVILIAN MRT L (I) TWO (II) TWO (III) NIL M VALLEY MRT 1 CPL 8 AIRMEN 32 MAN HOURS TOTAL VEHICLE MILEAGE 30 MILES N N/A O N/A P N/A Q N/A R N/A S AT THE REQUEST OF NORTH WALES POLICE, VALLEY MRT ASSISTED IN THE RESCUE OF TWO CLIMBERS STUCK ON A CRAG IN SNOWDONIA. THE CLIMBERS WERE ASSISTED DOWN TO THE ROAD HEAD RAF VALLEY MOUNTAIN RESCUE EXERCISE 6-8 JAN 1978 BASE CWM NANTCOL BAINES WHITING ROBERTS CHAPMAN HOLLISTER FORSTER JAMES JOHNSON PIBWORTH WATHAN KAY MUST RANDALL MARSHALL SATURDAY 7 JAN 78 VICTOR 1: Baines Hollister Forster Base Rhinog Fawr, Clip, Moel Ysgyfarngod 657 373 14 KM 1200 M Ascent 7 hrs VICTOR 2 Randall, James, Marshall Reciprocal of Victor 1 12 KM 925 M Ascent 8 hrs VICTOR 3 Chapman, Wathan, Roberts Barmouth, Llanaber, Diffwys-y-llether, Rhinog Fach 15 Km, 1,100 M ascent 7 hrs VICTOR 4 Kay, Whitting, Johnson Rhinog Fawr, Rhinog Fach, Y-Lethr-Moel, Blithcwm, Cil Cil Cychwyn Farm 11 KM 1250 M 51/2 hrs Base Must, Victor Control Pibworth SUNDAY 8 JAN 78 VICTOR 1 Baines, Wathan, Marshall, Forster VMRT 77-80 Comp.doc 4 Hotel to Foxes Path, Cader Idris, Idris Gates 8 KM 718M 31/2 hrs VICTOR 2 Chapman, Hollister, Johnson, Kay Idris Gates, Cader Idris, Hotel 8 KM 718 M 31/2 hrs VICTOR 3 Randall, Must, James, Roberts Y Garn 71/2 K 475M 4 hrs Base Whiting Victor Control Pibworth The whole weekend was spent in very thick fog - which made navigation very difficult. RAF VALLEY MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM WEEKEND EXERCISE 13-15 JAN 78 Base: Dolgarrog Baines Marshall Kay Roberts Pibworth Chapman Cameron Forster Randall Worsnop Walker Hollister Morgan Hatton Wathan Sat 14 Jan Carreg Alltrem - Abseiling - Stretcher Lowring Base - Randall. Victor Control - Pibworth Sun 15 Jan Victor 1: Randall, Morgan, Marshall Capel Curig - Moel Eilio - Base. 10.5km - 1600ft - 51/2 hrs Victor 2 Chapman, Worsnop, Hatton. Bwlch Ddeugaen - Drum - Foel Fras - Foel Grach - Dulyn - Melynlun - Pipeline - Base 18km - 693m - 61/2 hrs Victor 3: Kay, Cameron, Walker Tryfan - Glyder Fach - Glyder Fawr - Devils Kitchen - Ogwen Cottage 81/2km, 2994ft, 61/2 hrs Victor 4: Wathan, Roberts, Forster Moel Elio - Cwum Eigiau - Melynllyn - Tal-Y-Bont. 23km - 1007m - 71/2 hrs VMRT 77-80 Comp.doc 5 Base - Hollister. Victor Control - Pibworth, Baines RAF VALLEY MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM WEEKEND EXERCSIE 20-22 JAN 78 The weekend started off with a call-out early Friday morning. A first light search was instigated from Oggie Cottage with civilian dogs and MRTs. The 3 missing persons were found soon after dawn. Team returned to Valley for late breakfast then left at 6pm as usual. Baines Palmer Randall Croker Wathan Walker Morris (Trialist) Cameron Illife Chapman Roberts Johnson Forster Worsnop Haveron Kay Morgan Booth Hollister Pibworth 22 Sqn Standby: Cross, Whiting SAT 21 JAN 78 Victor 1 Baines, Worsnop, Palmer Moel Elio - Foel Gron - Foel Goch - Moel Cynohorion - Haffodty New-Ydd - Base 11K, 616M, 6 hrs Victor 2 Randall, Morgan, Morris Base - Clogwyn Station - Base 8.2K, 574M, 41/2hrs Victor 3 Haveron, Wathan, Roberts Pen-y-Pass - Snowdon - Clogwyn D'Arduu - Haffodty New-Ydd - Base 14Km, 730M, 61/2 hrs Victor 4 Chapman, Croker, Johnson, Forster 16Km, 970M, 6 hrs Victor 5 Hollister, Walker, Kay, Cameron Pen-Y-Pass - Crib Goch - Pyg Track Snowdon Base A very bad weather day with gale force winds and soft snow. All parties sought alternative routes. Base: Booth. Victor Control: Pibworth. Illife - Base Repair. SUN 22 JAN 78 Victor 1 Baines Forster Hollister and 4 Wathan Morgan Croker Illife Palmer Cameron Walker Haveron Johnson VMRT 77-80 Comp.doc 6 Moelwyns - Oakley Quarry - Cwm Cwmorthin Victor 2 Chapman, Worsnop, Booth Watkin Path to Llewidd - Pen-Y-Pass Also involved in checking false alarm for 4 climbers stuck on LLewidd 81/2Km, 838M, 6 hrs Victor 3 Randall, Morris, Roberts Base - 573560 - 605522 - Cwm Llan Nant Gwynant 13K, 300M, 5 hrs Base: Kay. Victor Control: Pibworth and Croker WEEKEND EXERCISE 27 - 29 JAN 78 BASE BETHESDA Baines Walker Randall Booth Pibworth Cameron Heaton Hatton Roberts Illife Morgan Palmer Hulme Whiting 22 Standby Owen - Wathan Base originally Pont-yr-Afon-gam. Changed to Bethesda due to bad weather forcast. (Snow and high winds). However, on Friday night team still carried out night exercise in Ponty-yr-afom-gam area. FRIDAY VICTOR 1. Baines, Walker, Cameron, Morgan, Randall. D/O 816395 - Arewigfach - Cefngarw (Bivvy) - Pont-yr-Afon-gam. 12km 397m (51/2 hrs) Total 12 hrs. VICTOR 2 Heaton, Palmer, Hatton, Hulme Illife D/O 815330 - Arenig Fawr - Amnodd wen Bivvy at 816395 111/2 km 550m (5 hrs) Total 12 hrs SATURDAY VICTOR 3. Base - Arenig Fach - Arenig Fawr Pick up at 815330 Base Palmer v Control Pibworth VMRT 77-80 Comp.doc 7 SUNDAY Extremely bad weather - blizzard conditions. Team assisted in search for a climber/walker missing in Llyn Llngwy. No trace. Search abandoned due to extreme climatic conditions. Casualty believed to have drowned in the lake. All duty team involved. All major roads blocked with snow MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM EXERCISE WEEK ENDING 3 TO 5 FEB 78 - BASED AT TYN TWR, BETHESDA Sat 4 Feb Assistance to Police in recovering drowning victim (last Saturday) from Llyn Fynnon Llwgwy. Located by Runcorn Police Diving Team. Personnel and equipment uplifted by 22 Sqn from Gwern-Y-Gof-Isaf. Clark, Johnson, Morgan and Whiting (Owen and Palmer). V1 Party. Heaton, Worsnop, Walker, Marsden. Devils Kitchen and Y Garn practising snow techniques. 3K - 380M - 4 hrs - Poor Snow. V2 Party. Hollister and Cameron. From Ogwen, Pen-Yr-Olen-Wen, Dafydd, Llewelyn, Refuse, Base. Snow techniques and route finding 171/2K - 1035M - 81/4 hrs - good V3 Party. Kay, Roberts, Morris and Marshall. From Ogwen, Y Garn, Mynydd Perfedd, Carnedd-Y-Filiast, Base. Snow techniques and route finding. 10K - 940M - 6 hrs - Snow melting fast. Start: 0830 Finish: 1730 Cook: Forster Sun 5 Feb V1 Party. Heaton, Owen, Marsden, Johnson. Capel - Crimpiaw - Crafnant - Capel. 4K - 200M - 31/2 hrs - Crag Search. V2 Party Hollister, Cameron, Walker, Worsnop. Plas-Y-Hremin - Siabod - Llyn-Y-Foel - Pont Cyfyng. 8K - 740M - 31/2 hrs. VMRT 77-80 Comp.doc 8 Party V3, Clark, Forster, Whiting. Cwm Lloer from Glam Dema. Snow Techniques. 5K - 460M - 3 hrs. V4 Party Kay and Roberts. Pen-Y-Pas - Lliwedd - Yr Wyddfa - Miners - Pen-Y-Pass 13K - 900M - 41/2 hrs. V5 Party. Randall, Morgan and Marshall Base, Carnedd-Y-Fiuast, Foel Goch, Y Garn, Devils Kitchen, Ogwen 9K - 900M - 51/2 hrs - Good Start: 0900 Finish: 1700 Cook: Palmer / Morris MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM EXERCISE WEEKENDING 10/2/78 BASED AT: DOLGARROG Saturday V1 Randall - Walker - Forster - Cross (with Madog). In SWB to Bwlch-y-Deufan fo a circuit of the Tal-y-Fan course, Cefn Coch, The Flats, and tracks.