Fortunate lives were not lost – this time

No matter how many warnings are issued by the authorities, the sheer idiocy of some on Scotland’s treacherous mountains continues unabated. The latest lucky pair to be plucked to safety were a pair of walkers “equipped” with nothing more than mobile phones.

They had even eschewed winter jackets before taking to the hills, putting themselves and many others in danger.

It is sheer, dumb luck that they were not stuck on the side of 4,295 foot Ben Macdui overnight.

They could easily have died.

Theirs was the third such rescue by Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team in the space of five days.

Winter never truly leaves Scotland’s high places but is ready to close in with typical fury in the coming days, heightening the potential deadliness of the peaks for months to come.

Such conditions, of course, place the mountains among Scotland’s prime attractions, bringing climbers, walkers and skiers from across the world.

According to VisitScotland, snow sports are worth an estimated £37 million to the economy.

But they are also deadly – 10 people died in Scotland’s hills in the first three months of this year alone.

People taking to the hills have a wealth of information about conditions, although there is no substitute for common sense – it is time people started listening.