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Two die in Buachaille avalanche

Police have confirmed that the two climbers swept away by an avalanche on Buachaille Etive Mor have died. The two men, who have not been named, were swept up in the avalanche shortly before 5pm today while climbing on Curved Ridge on the mountain in Glencoe.

The two climbers in Glencoe were with a third man, who escaped being carried down the ridge. A group of walkers behind saw what happened and called the emergency services.

The leader of Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team, John Grieve, told the BBC: “Two of the party set off a very small, slab avalanche that just took them off their feet, they fell a long way. It was very steep ground and they fell about 1,500ft, right down almost to the bottom of the mountain.”

He said the other group of climbers met the uninjured member of the party. “They climbed all the way down the mountain, checking areas where the two might be, until they found their bodies,” he added.

Earlier in the day a man was injured on the north face of Ben Nevis after apparently being swept from his climb by an avalanche. A man was found in Coire Na Ciste after falling several hundred feet from an ice climb. He was given medical attention on the mountain before being flown to hospital in Fort William and subsequently, to Glasgow’s Southern General Hospital.

Many trip reports submitted to Walkhighlands recently have mentioned the amount of hoar frost visible on the snow surface; such a layer once covered by fresh snow increases the danger of avalanches. Other climbers have reported seeing a lot of wind slab on the tops and therefore the Scottish Avalanche Information Service should be consulted before any trip into the hills in the coming days.

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You should always carry a backup means of navigation and not rely on a single phone, app or map. Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. Information is provided free of charge; it is every walker's responsibility to check it and to navigate safely.