Flare used in Scotland mountain rescue
16/12/2022
A flare helped Scotland mountain rescuers find four climbers lost in the Cairngorms.
Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team was alerted one December afternoon when heavy snow and blizzards struck.
The team was initially asked to search for two walkers who got into difficulty returning from their route in the treacherous weather, which resulted in them having to wade through waist-deep snow. The rescuers then received reports of another pair of overdue hikers in the Coire an t-Sneachda area.
Team leader, Iain Cornfoot said, “It was really pretty arduous. The snow made it difficult and pretty slow going.”
He separated the team to try and find both sets of walkers. After setting off a flare, one group found some hikers in their early 20s. Eventually, both parties were rescued in the Coire Raibert area and helped off the mountain.
Mr Cornfoot added, “The Cairngorms are a beautiful place to be at this time of year, but you have to have the correct survival equipment. A map and a compass are a must, and these guys failed to have everything they needed.”
The image is courtesy of the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team.
