A huge search on Ben Nevis has failed to find any trace of a climbing couple who went missing after a Valentine’s Day ascent of the peak.
Forty volunteers from six mountain rescue teams were involved in the fresh hunt for Rachel Slater, 24, and Tim Newton, 27.
Miss Slater’s parents saw the effort of those who joined the search for their daughter and her boyfriend.
Experienced mountaineers Nigel and Rosemary Slater – who flew from Canada after the couple disappeared – were “overwhelmed” by the scale of the operation.
John Stevenson, Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team Leader, has already said it is “very unlikely” the pair will be found alive.
Mountain rescue teams from Lochaber, Cairngorm, Oban, Skye, Dundonnell and a Search and Rescue Dogs Association (Sarda) crew scoured Ben Nevis.
The conditions allowed for an extremely thorough search.
Since the couple from Bradford went missing, volunteer operations have been hampered by snow and the avalanche risk.
A lot of time was dedicated to searching and probing avalanche debris in various locations, with the Cairngorm team using a metal detector.
Mr Stevenson said: “They had a big day on Saturday and found absolutely nothing.
“I don’t think we are going to find anything until we lose some of the snow. There were so many people up there, if they were anywhere visible they would have been seen by now.”
The search was stood down after Saturday’s effort.
A relative of the missing pair thanked the rescuers for everything they had done.
In an online post, Mis Slater’s cousin, Helen Lister, said: “As family members, I’m sure that we are all realistic in our expectations of the rescue mission.
“Living with this uncertainty is very hard and must be excruciating for Rachel and Tim’s parents and siblings.
“It is hard enough when you are just a cousin and live very far away. Our hearts are all heavy, but full of gratitude for all the efforts put forth by the MRT.”