The dad of a tragic climber who died on Ben Nevis has revealed how he recently made an “emotional” pilgrimage up the mountain.
Chris Newton embarked on the trek with his eldest son Ed and members of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team earlier this month.
He lost his other son Tim after the 27-year-old and his girlfriend Rachel Slater were caught in an avalanche while on a climbing trip up Ben Nevis on Valentine’s weekend.
While the heartbroken father was on the walk, the mountain rescue team was called out to help another young man who later died.
Kieran Shaw, 21, fell near the Easy Gully on Aonach Mor in Lochaber on Sunday, October 2.
Mr Newton, of Stapleton, said: “It brings it home to you. Their work goes on.”
The Press and Journal reported last week that Mr Newton had donated £9,000 to the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team.
It was the money he would have spent on his son’s fees to continue his studies at Leeds University this year.
Speaking of the visit to Ben Nevis, he said: “It was quite emotional but it was something we wanted to do.”
The father and son spent time with the mountain rescue team before and after the walk.
Mr Newton said: “They are really supportive. It makes me so appreciative of them. They are brilliant.”
The volunteers had spent hundreds of hours searching the mountain for the couple earlier this year.
Experienced climbers Tim and Rachel went missing on Valentine’s Day while climbing on the country’s highest peak.
Extensive air and land searches were mounted in difficult conditions for more than five weeks before their bodies were discovered in deep snow at the base of Observatory Gully.
It was believed that they had been hit by an avalanche near where they had pitched their tent, and before they had started their ascent.
Tim was originally from Leicestershire, but had lived in Bradford and studied physics at Manchester University before enrolling last year to study the same subject at Leeds University.
Donating £9,000 plus £2,250 in gift aid to the mountain rescue team, his father Mr Newton wrote: “For the heroes that are Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, Tim’s university fees for 2016/17.
“I can think of no more deserving cause. With a father’s love to my Tim and dearest Rachel, forever with me.”
