12 in avalanche drama as blizzards hit region

A group of mountaineers was caught up in an avala- nche drama in the Cairngorms yesterday as ferocious blizzards blasted parts of the Highlands. Three climbers were injured as their party was engulfed by snow less than two miles from their base at the Glenmore Lodge National Outdoor Training Centre near Aviemore.

The atrocious 70mph storms that swept the mountains also closed part of the A9 Inverness-Perth road for several hours after a lorry jackknifed just north of Dalwhinnie.

The southbound lane was closed and a contraflow system was put in place but, as visibility dropped in the whiteout conditions and officers found themselves almost unable to stand in the driving snow, the decision was taken to close the road and divert traffic.

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