Mountain rescue called out to rescue Cairnsmore walkers
GALLOWAY Mountain Rescue Team’s first callout in 2013 saw the team to respond to an emergency call from two local men in their 20’s from the Newton Stewart area who were lost in poor weather whilst descending Cairnsmore of Fleet.
The call came at 6.20pm on Saturday to request the team and eight members, along with the team’s SARDA (Search and
Rescue Dog Association) search dog, responded.
Team Leader Mike McCann, who led the search, said: “By 7.30pm we had searchers deployed on the hill. We fortunately managed to speak to the walkers on their mobile phone and we quickly determined their approximate location resulting in a hasty response onto the hillside north west of the so called tourist path. When we found them sheltering behind a dyke they were wet and cold but otherwise safe and well.”
He continued: “This incident highlights how quickly bad weather with low cloud can disorientate walkers on a hill which, under good conditions, would be considered easily navigated. Cairnsmore of Fleet is typical of many hills in Galloway as it has a relatively featureless summit plateau resulting in the path being difficult to find during periods of poor visibility.”
Walkers might like to note that MWIS, the Mountain Weather Information Service, provide a regularly updated forecast specifically for walkers in the Galloway Hills which can be downloaded from http://www.mwis.org.uk/su.php.
For more information about the voluntary activities of Galloway MRT including details of incidents, training, walk routes and much more, visit www.gallowaymrt.org.uk.
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Weather for Newton Stewart
Saturday 18 May 2013
Today
Heavy rain
Temperature: 8 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
