A Highland mountain rescue team is appealing for funding for all terrain vehicles that will help Tara the search and rescue dog reach avalanche victims faster.
And Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team is hoping this will enable it to save more lives.
The team has already ordered two six-wheeled ATVs, which it is hoping will be in use before the New Year for rescues on Ben Nevis and the other hills and mountains in the area.
Deputy team leader Donald Paterson said: “Early next year, the Search and Rescue helicopter support we receive from the Navy and RAF will start to be phased out and transferred to Bristows.
“Although we have no reason to think the service will be any different from the excellent one provided by our close friends in the services, we don’t want to be caught out if it is.
“We have reluctantly decided to purchase all terrain vehicles to allow us to transport equipment and recover casualties.
“The ATVs will also help us get Tara, our SAR dog, to the scenes of avalanches quicker, which could save lives.”
He added that they had been trialling an ATV this year and had discovered that it sometimes meant team members could reach casualties faster than by calling out a search and rescue helicopter.
Mr Paterson said: “On an ATV, we can get from our base on the industrial estate in Fort William to half way up Ben Nevis in 30 minutes.
“If we call out a helicopter, it takes take about an hour to reach the location, unless it is training in the area, and on foot it takes us about an hour and a half.”
He added that they were initially buying two six-wheeled ATVs at a total of about £25,000.
But they also want to purchase a tracked vehicle, which would have better all round capability on snow and soft ground, and this was expected to cost around £45,000 to £50,000.
Mr Paterson said: “We can just about cover the cost of the first two ATVs with our grant from the Scottish Government for 2014, but will need to fund raise for the purchase of the more specialist machine.”
He added that any donations towards the other ATVs would enable them to use their government funding for other purposes.
Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so by visiting the team’s website at www.lochabermrt.co.uk and clicking on the Just Giving link.