A couple who spent a night stranded in Arctic conditions in the Cairngorms have thanked their rescuers.
Bob Elmer described how he and his wife Cathy battled against waist-deep snow after setting out for a New Year’s Day walk – before being forced to huddle down in bivvy bags to ride out a storm.
The Leicestershire couple and their collie Meg were found by members of Cairngorm Mountain Rescue on the slopes of Cairn Gorm about midday on Monday.
Yesterday Mr Elmer, 59, described conditions on the plateau as temperatures dipped as low as -7C – with a windchill factor making it feel considerably colder.
He said: “The snow was at times up to our waists.”
He added: “We eventually got out on to the plateau with the intention of trying to find the summit of Cairn Gorm then my headlamp gave up so we decided we couldn’t go on any further.
“We didn’t know really where we were going. You couldn’t see your hand in front of your face, so we decided to get the survival bags out.”
Mountain rescue team leader Willie Anderson said the decision to carry and then use the bivvy bags probably saved their lives.
The couple have been holidaying in the Highlands and set off from their campsite at Glenmore for a walk, initially traversing lower ground before heading towards 4,084ft Cairn Gorm.
Mr Elmer said: “I was desperate for daylight to come so we could finish the journey. But I was hoping for clear conditions.
“It was white out with a wind – I don’t think you can know until you experience it. The mountains can be dangerous.”
He added: “We’re so grateful to the mountain rescue. It was such a relief to see them.”
Members of Cairngorm Mountain Rescue were joined in the search by members of the RAF rescue team and the Inverness-based coastguard helicopter Rescue 951.
