Kintail MRT rescue hook-up tops busiest month on record for Dundonnell team
A CLIMBER in difficulty on a remote Highland peak sparked a collaborative rescue mission involving two Ross-shire mountain rescue teams.
Early on Wednesday morning, Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team were called out to assist Kintail MRT in the evacuation of an injured walker high on the Affric ridge above Alltbeith.
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Kintail MRT members were in attendance during the night.
The casualty was subsequently stretchered for a short distance before being evacuated by HM Coastguard helicopter from Stornoway.
It was the eleventh call out for DMRT in May, its busiest month on record.
Kintail MRT said that on Tuesday night the team were tasked to assist a solo walker from high on the ridge of Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan, one of remotest Munros in Scotland, at the head of Glen Affric.
Due to low cloud, the initial attempts by the Inverness coastguard helicopter to reach the location given by the casualty’s emergency beacon were unsuccessful.
The team posted: “So boots were deployed for a stretcher-carry with some team accessing the area from the east by 4x4 and others approaching on foot from Glenshiel, to the south.
“We were grateful to the support and collaboration of eight team members from neighbouring Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team who were also able to reach the remote location.
“Once in the stretcher, the casualty was carried down to below the cloud base, from where the Stornoway coastguard helicopter was able to do an extraction to Fort William.
“By late Wednesday afternoon the teams were able to begin their long journey home. The team were also grateful for the support of the Hostelling Scotland staff at Glen Affric Youth Hostel. We wish the casualty a speedy recovery.”
Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan is described on respected walkhighlands site as “a magnificent mountain” which is the culminating point of a series of fine ridges. It states: “It is at the very heart of the wild area at the head of Glen Affric - making it one of the remotest peaks in Scotland - and most walkers will need an overnight stay to make the ascent.”
