Cairngorm mountain rescuers locate lost teenage hiker in freezing conditions

Four Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team members saved a teenage hiker who became lost in fast fading light and deep snow on October 23, the Strathspey Herald reported. The hiker from the Central Belt of Scotland had started his walk late in the day before getting caught out in the Goat Track area of the mountain range. [1]

The volunteers deployed at 8pm to search for the teenager in what was their first snowy rescue of the winter season, according to the Strathspey Herald. Rescuers encountered snow drifts exceeding two feet deep in high areas and wind chill temperatures reaching minus 10 degrees Celsius. [1]

The Cairngorms take their English name from Cairn Gorm, a peak standing at 1,245 meters, which comes from the Scottish Gaelic name translating to the blue cairn or blue hill. The traditional Gaelic name for the entire range is Am Monadh Ruadh, which means the red hills. [5]

Once team members located the hiker, they provided warmth and accompanied him safely down the mountain via Fiacaill a’ Choire Chais, the Strathspey Herald reported. The rescue operation was fully completed by 1am on October 24. [1]