The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Hillwalkers go online to relive their close shaves
‘Cautionary tales’ on mountaineering website help warn others
Hillwalkers have spoken out over their horrifying ordeals on Scotland’s mountains for a website.
The stories include a woman who briefly considered jumping from a peak instead of trying to climb down.
Mountaineering Scotland has launched a webpage of rescues and near misses in the hope such “cautionary tales” will help others to learn from the mistakes.
At least 10 hillwalkers died on Scotland’s moun- tains last winter, several falling through cornices – overhanging snow ledges that appear solid.
One woman told of her traumatic experience of scaling 3,127ft Aonach Eagach, a rocky ridge north of Glen Coe.
“My tale is one highlighting the fact you should do your own research rather than putting all your faith and trust in someone else,” wrote the hiker.
“I met this new man. He booked our first weekend away at the Ballachulish Hotel. I had done about eight Munros and was so excited that he seemed so experienced in the hills.
“I have to admit he had mentioned the Aonach Eagach ridge a few times, and much as I didn’t know too much about it, I had been to the funeral of a man who had fallen to his death from it.
“The snow was much deeper than expected but he didn’t seem concerned in the slightest.
“We had no crampons or ice axes. He did have a small length of rope. The first down-climb scared me half to death but he assured me once that bit was over it was all plain sailing.
“The main bits I remember are the chimney, where he tied the rope round my waist, and the pinnacles.
“We got to the first pinnacle and watched a beautiful sunset. Then my fear really kicked in.
“On the last pinnacle he climbed over to see what was on the other side, always telling me this is the last scary bit.
“I was left gripping on but with a huge urge to jump. Sounds dramatic but throwing myself off seemed favourable to staying up there.
“When he appeared back I remember saying I need the helicopter, and him replying, we are not phoning mountain rescue so you’ll just have to get on with it!
“I did it and I survived but I really suffered with trauma of it. I was pushed way beyond where I thought my limits were.
“I will never ever go out in the hills again without going through everything with a fine-toothed comb, to my own detriment sometimes.
“It took me about four years to get over it. I have since done a navigation course and, though I still make mistakes, my confidence is growing and I am now up to 89 Munros and lots of other hills in between.”