Two skiers, who were on a mountaineering trip in the Cairngorms, Scotland were missing overnight in freezing temperatures but have now been found safe and well by rescue teams.
The skiers had dug a snow hole to shelter overnight after the search was called off Tuesday night due to challenging conditions, including whiteouts and deep snow. They were found just south of Ben Macdui, on the Cairngorm Plateau, when the search resumed at 6 am on Wednesday morning. When found, they were airlifted off the mountain by the Inverness coastguard helicopter.
The pair, who were ski touring, failed to return from a trip above the Cairngorm ski center on Tuesday. Once the alarm had been raised, rescue teams and a coastguard helicopter were scrambled to the area. Teams from Cairngorm, Glenmore Lodge, Braemar, Aberdeen and RAF Lossiemouth mountain rescue were involved in the search operation.
After the skiers were found, Cairngorm MRT said: “A happy conclusion this morning with yesterday’s navigationally challenged ski tourers located after a cold night out in a snow hole on the plateau. CMRT extend thanks to all the agencies involved.”
