Cairngorm Mountain Rescue heroes get time – just! – to celebrate 60 years
Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team members were left alone just long enough last Saturday afternoon to celebrate the organisation’s 60th birthday – but Sunday was a different matter.
CMRT deputy leader Willie Anderson explained: “It wasn’t long before they were being called out – starting our 61st year with a rescue in Glenfeshie.
“And there will have been some pretty sore heads because it was a great party we had!”
A walker who had got into trouble was airlifted from the glen on Sunday.
Team leader Iain Cornfoot explained: "We were alerted to a male in his 60s suffering from chest pain and breathing difficulties near the sumit of Carn Ban Mor.
"A Coastguard rescue helicopter from Inverness was requested to attend and arrived on scene as our team members reached the bottom of the mountain.
"The casualty was airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment."
Mr Cornfoot added: "Medical emergencies of this nature are time critical, the casualty's companion had called mountain rescue through the police and had given accurate details of the medical emergency and location on the hillside.
"This, along with the rapid response time from the rescue helicopter saw the gentleman in hospital within 60 minutes of the initial callout.
"We're very grateful for the world class service we receive from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency helicopter crews."
The night before, the volunteers of the strath’s very own fourth emergency service had been allowed simply to gather socially and enjoy a wonderful party, celebrating six decades of life-saving work.
They gathered at Badaguish Outdoor Centre by Glenmore to toast themselves and their new sponsor, Tomintoul Single Malt.
“There was about 80 of us,” said Mr Anderson, a former leader of the team, who had been delighted to meet up with some real ‘legends’ to mark the anniversary, among them ‘Cairngorm John’ Allen.
“It was great to hear that John’s superb account of it all (Cairngorm John, Sandstone Press, 2010) had now gone out as an audio book as well.
“Strathy readers take note!”
Saturday’s do heard no speeches or presentations, which left all the time for socialising, catching up – sometimes after quite a few years – toasting the new sponsors in their own product and enjoying a delicious buffet supper creating by on-site caterers the Speyside Kitchen.
The team is based at St Columbas Rescue Base at Inverdurie by Aviemore and from there coordinate rescues which are predominantly in the Northern Cairngorms.
There are generally around 40 members at any one time who give their time freely to help those in need of aid in the mountains.
On average the CMRT responds to 45 call-outs a year, totalling 3000 man hours,and they can range from a couple of hours to multi-day searches
