Two climbers who were rescued after spending a terrifying night on a ledge on Ben Nevis, are offering a reward for the return of the expensive kit they were forced to leave behind.
The pair called 999 when darkness fell and they could not find the route down the UK’s highest mountain in blizzard conditions.
Andy Harris, of Droitwich in Worcestershire, said they had been unable to gather up their equipment before sheltering overnight in a bothy bag and by the morning it was buried in snow that had frozen solid.
The 28-year-old plasterer set off with a friend to climb Tower Ridge at 4am on Saturday January 17, but deep snow hampered their progress.
Mr Harris said: “When it started to get dark and snow, we were really stuck. We were on a small ledge, couldn’t find the route down and were getting slight hypothermia.”
He called for Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team at around 7pm. However, the team and Royal Navy helicopter were unable to reach them because of the weather conditions.
He said: “Around midnight, they said they would try again at first light. It was really scary being told we had to spend seven hours on the ledge in the freezing cold.
“We both climbed into the bothy bag, but my feet were frozen so I took my boots off and massaged them to warm them up.
“We were so pleased to see the helicopter in the morning, but I couldn’t get my boots back on and all our gear was covered with snow and frozen solid so we had to leave it behind.”
Their loss included two rucksacks, two pairs of ice-axes, two Mammut ropes, a pair of Mammut crampons attached to climbing boots and a variety of other kit and equipment worth hundreds of pounds.
Mr Harris added “a big thank you” to the mountain rescue team and the helicopter crew, describing them as “amazing”, and said he was planning to do the three peak challenge to raise money for the team.
Donald Paterson, deputy leader of the rescue team, said: “We took the decision to go back for them in the morning because they weren’t injured, they were both together and they were well equipped.
“If they’re very lucky someone will find their kit and hand it in to the police, but it’s more likely that it was blown off the ridge and has been buried in snow.”
Mr Harris is asking anyone who finds any of their missing equipment to contact him by e-mail at andyharris3@icloud.com.