Glencoe fall death climber was mountain rescue team member
A climber who died in a fall in the Scottish Highlands was a member of the local mountain rescue team, it has emerged.
A climber who died in a fall in the Scottish Highlands was a member of the local mountain rescue team, it has emerged.
Joe Smith, 23, was killed along with fellow mountaineer Simon Davidson, 34, in Glencoe on Saturday.
The men, who were found roped together, are thought to have died after being caught up in an avalanche.
Mr Smith lived in Kinlochleven in the Highlands and was a member of Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team (MRT), whose volunteers had to carry the men's bodies off the hill.
Team leader Andy Nelson said: It's a tragic time when anyone dies in the hills but when it's one of your own extended family, a member of the rescue team, it becomes particularly difficult to deal with - the nitty gritty of the rescue, not to mention the aftermath.
We gave some thought to how we were going to go about the rescue of the bodies but there's no easy answer to that, they just had to be carried off the hill and the team are the people to do that.''
Mr Smith and Mr Davidson, who was from the Edinburgh area, were found by another climbing party on Stob Coire nam Beith at about 4.30pm.
The experienced climbers were said to have been well equipped for the trip.
The weather in the area was described as a typical winter day - snowing with wind on top'' and the Scottish Avalanche Information Service labelled the risk in Glencoe on Saturday asconsiderable'', a warning that remains in place.
Ochils Mountain Rescue Team said: The team were very saddened to hear of the tragic deaths of Simon Davidson and Joe Smith in Glencoe.
Both men were very experienced climbers and held in very high regard by the outdoor community.
Joe was a member of Glencoe MRT so obviously made a lot of sacrifices in helping others.
Our thoughts are with both families and also Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team at this very tragic time.''
Lomond Mountain Rescue Team said: Our sincere condolences to Simon Davidson and Joe Smith's family, friends and colleagues at Glencoe MRT.''
The deaths are thought to be the first on Scottish mountains this year but there have been a number of incidents where rescuers have criticised those who take to the hills ill-prepared.
Lomond MRT found two men freezing'' on Ben Lomond earlier this month, five hours after they were reported missing. The pair lost the path on the descent from the mountain.