The fatality occurred in the Coire an t-Sneachda area of the Cairngorms (pictured left, image courtesy BBC), and yes I have unfortunately have had to mention that name before. The Snow Corrie has now claimed 5 lives since November. The Cairngorm Mountain Rescue team have stated that snow conditions are such that there is less deep snow about, and more rock protruding through it. Any falls are not cushioned by snow, and a fall on ice will at least cause injury. CMR have described this year as one of the worst ever encountered. Coire an t-Sneachda is located within an hour's walk of the carpark, and apart from poor climbing conditions, relative inexperience may also have played a role, and any mistakes will have dire consequences. The man who died on Friday has not (yet) been named. The sad roll call includes: Aberdeen University student Richard Hardy, 18, from
Milton in Hampshire, and graduate Graeme Cooper, 23, from Aberdeen,
who died in November. In December, Neil Batchelor, 26, from Inverness, perished in a climbing accident. Bristol University mechanical engineering student Hugh
Pitcairn, 20, died on 10 January, while climbing Crotched Gully in
Coire an t-Sneachda.The injured climber was on a mountain called Stob Coire Easain, about 15 miles east of Fort William. For those familiar with the area, the mountain is located due north of Creaguaineach Lodge on Loch Treig, to the north of Corrour. A picture gallery can be viewed here.
Why do they climb in this weather, I'm loathe to go out shopping let alone climb a mountain. I feel sorry for the teams who risk their lives to save them or pick up their bodies. Jeannette xx
ReplyDeleteThat is such a shame.When will people learn that just because it is there does not mean that man has to prove something and climb it.
ReplyDeleteIt's against the law to go over Niagra Falls in a barrel and it's against the law to scale skyscrapers then why oh why isn't this fooliness unlawful.It may discourage some from trying it and dying....
Perhaps if these climbers or walkers had to buy a licence to take part in their hobby, like anglers do, then there might be fewer using them. If not, at least the revenue would go a long way to help pay for the overheads and expenses curtailed when the mountain rescue teams go out to search for them. I know...I know..its a pie in the sky idea, but something has to be done to save them from themselves.
ReplyDeleteThe mountains claim lives every year and still the other climbers go back...So sad, all those bright, young people lost just as their lives are really beginning. We have the same thing here in the states....Linda in Washington
ReplyDeleteSad and am sorry to read it Guido. God Bless and keep the familys and may God take them into His loving arms.
ReplyDeleteHugs from Doreen :)))))))
Oh how sad! Prayers going up for all those affected!
ReplyDeletebe well,
Dawn
That is a vicious looking moutain. Cynical I am but I have to wonder about the rescue teams being at risk for the bravado or foolishness of those who continue to scale the mountains. Chris
ReplyDelete