Mystery 'Bloodcurdling screaming' on Ben Nevis

[Walk-n-Roller]

What's the thoughts on this then?

Climbers mystified by 'bloodcurdling screaming' - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-31550374

I've been on hills before when the clag has came down and your trying hard to listen to hear if anyone is up ahead or behind...sometimes the mind can play tricks.....this seems a bit more than that though.

[IamAJMiller]

I read this earlier, a very strange occurrence. I know what you mean about the mind playing tricks, but the fact that so many others heard it is an odd one! I read some people thought maybe a fox?! Seems unlikely. I wonder if it was a dog owner who lost their pet over the edge and maybe thought there was no point reporting it. Again unlikely and purely speculation!

[meangarry]

Initially I thought of a vixen 'screaming'. It's not inconcievable that a fox would be drawn to carrion or rubbish on the summit and wind can carry a sound a fair distance in cold winter air.

Have a listen for yourself. I know I'd be reaching for spare pants after hearing this!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT9VkrpW2Do

Anyways. Unexplained it shall remain. It still made for a good read.

[Moriarty]

Aye - my first thought was a vixen too. Can be a pretty unsettling noise if you haven't heard it before.

Foxes are up and at it in the hills this time of year too.

Of course a blood-curdling ghost story is usually worth about 2 free rounds in the pub too....so well worth putting the descriptive effort in.

[Guinessman]

Discussed widely on UKH with "the bear" initially getting the blame.

http://www.ukhillwalking.com/forums/t.php?n=609268

[tomsnowball]

I would guess this was a Sika stag. They let out some bloodcurdling sounds, though i think it was the wrong time of year for the rut. In the right conditions the sounds could carry some distance and could be mistaken for human.

here's some at a zoo.....

[Backpacker]

Last year I was climbing Beinn Mheadhoin from the Linn Of Dee and when boulder hopping my right calf suddenly spasmed and I let out a bit of a girly scream and fell in a heap on the snow

When walking out through Glen Derry a SAR helicopter flew over my head and buzzed about Derry Cairngorm/Beinn Mheadhoin. No idea if it was a training exercise or someone had heard me scream and called it in.