Mountain rescuers in the Cairngorms were called into action in “full winter” conditions last night.
Two overdue walkers were reported in difficulty after a day spent on Ben Macdui, Scotland’s second highest mountain.
The duo were later rescued on the path leading back towards the CairnGorm Mountain Ski Centre from the mountain range’s plateau.
It is understood that the walkers had been delayed in walking out of the hills after a navigational error.
Team leader Willie Anderson said: “It is full winter conditions in the Cairngorms and we were treading snow as we went out.
“We’re very pleased to have located the walkers safe and well.”
But almost as soon as the team had returned to base after the call they were on alert again after a pair of climbers were reported overdue in returning from a walk in a remote area of the Cairngorms.
The pair were reported missing after a day in the area around Cairn Toul and Sgor an Lochain Uaine, also known as the Angels Peak.
They turned up under their own steam soon after.
The alerts come after the neighbouring Braemar Mountain Rescue Team issued a warning to anyone thinking of taking to the hills, with whiteouts and eight inches of snow expected this weekend.
During a training exercise the group capturing images of the snow-capped peak of Beinn Mheadhoin, across the Cairngorm Plateau from Ben Macdui.
Temperatures at the highest peaks is due to drop to as low as -3C this weekend, with the snowfall coming as far east as Lochnagar.
The Met Office described this weekend’s weather as the “first significant snowfall on the mountains for the season”.
