Thousands of pounds donated in memory of a mountain rescuer killed in a climbing accident will be used to ensure his passion for the hobby lives on.
Joe Smith and Simon Davidson died after falling from Stob Coire nam Beith in Lochaber on January 16.
Mr Smith, 23, of Kinlochleven, was a member of Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team – who were called out to search for the pair.
Now the team has decided to remember his love of climbing by creating a bouldering wall at their base – which will be named Joe’s Wall. Weights and an exercise bike will also be added to help team members train.
Team leader Andy Nelson said the training facility would double as a rehabilitation gym for injured team members.
He said: “Quite a lot of money came in from services and other events after Joe’s death so we wanted to do something specific with it.
“We will be dedicating the new facility to Joe and naming the wall after him.
“Any team members with niggling injuries can use it to get their fitness back for rescue work.”
Mr Nelson said at least £4,500 had been donated in memory of Mr Smith, and team members would be building the wall themselves.
He said: “We’ve had the timber delivered, we have a plan and we will be doing the work whenever it rains.”
Mr Smith and his friend Mr Davidson, who ran Fort William-based Garbh Mountain Adventures, fell “some distance” while climbing on Stob Coire nam Beith and were discovered by two other climbers, who raised the alarm.
Glencoe MRT was called out to rescue them and team members were horrified when they discovered that one of the casualties was a fellow team member.
It was the first time they had been called out to respond to a fatal accident involving one of their colleagues.
Paying tribute, Mr Nelson described Mr Smith as a “good egg” and said: “He was one of those guys you meet sometimes that is just full of goodness.”
