Hikers Rescued in Arctic Blast: Ill-Equipped Duo Saved from Ben Macdui

Two hikers in their 20s were rescued from Ben Macdui, the second highest mountain in Britain, after becoming stranded in extreme sub-zero temperatures. The pair had started their climb at 6 pm on Tuesday, but became stuck just two and a half hours later, with one suffering from hypothermia. The Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team was dispatched, finding the men in a precarious state and inadequately dressed for the conditions.

Temperatures on the mountain plummeted to minus 15C with wind chill. The hikers, who had traveled from Edinburgh, were found in jogging bottoms and trainers, lacking essential winter gear like crampons or an ice axe. Team leader Iain Cornfoot emphasized they would not have survived the night given their attire and unpreparedness. They were located in the Goat Track area of Coire an t-Sneachda, where icy conditions made further progress impossible.

The rescue operation involved thirteen members of the mountain rescue team who managed to safely lower the pair down to the corrie floor after rewarming and reassurance. Both hikers were back at base by 1 am and did not require further medical treatment. This rescue occurred as the UK experienced a significant Arctic blast, with widespread sub-zero temperatures and weather warnings issued for snow and ice across much of the country.