Epic in Etchachan – some new photos

The helicopter after it was turned round above the loch with Team member’s assisting it out in a line showing the way out. The visibility was worse than this! Photo Ray Shafron.

I was sent a few photos to go with my article on my blog on the 21/22 November 2013. It is worth a read  and I have to thank Ray Shafron for the photos. The photo above shows the helicopter flying just above  the Loch  in wild conditions.

Epic Weather. Ray Shafron photo.

I also along with the photos from Ray Shafron – received this wonderful note  from another great friend John Drysedale who is still with the Braemar Mountain Rescue Team along with Ian Bernard Beano (now sadly gone) saved our bacon. It is amazing how much this callout involved for the other Teams involved. It is mentioned in John Allan’s book “Caingorm John” but not this epic! Many thanks John – I was terrified in your wagon but too scared to mention it.

“Heavy, we never did tell you( at the time) as we descended into Glen Derry that the Flexmobile was sliding like a 5 ton sledge out of control. We slid for 50 metres before Beano( sadly departed Ian Bernard) managed to catch up the speed and take us down safely into the Glen .The old Flex is still going strong and is part of the two BMRT red taxis still ferrying the troops up and down Deeside.”

I am still looking for my own slides with helicopter just barely seen in the white out!  Crazy days in the heart of the Cairngorms.

Showing the way home! Photo Ray Shafron.

Still all alive we live to fight another day!

Time to go lots of gear and a long walk out ahead. Photo Ray Shafron.

Note

Loch Etchachan is an exceedingly remote freshwater loch set deep within the central Cairngorms plateau, it is located in the eastern Highlands of Scotland. It is the highest waterbody of its size in the UK, the surface being 927 metres (3,041 ft) above sea level. In winter it is wild place frozen up for most of the winter.