Jack & Tess in mountain rescue
Posted: 06 Sep 2010, 00:34
On Monday morning Moira and I took Jack and Tess to climb a remote Munro in the centre of the Cairngorms. To reach it you have to climb over Cairngorm, down to Loch Avon and up the other side. The first hour and a half we were walking in thick cloud then it started to clear and we could see where we were going.
This is the path leading to the steep drop down to Loch Avon. In the top right you can see remote Loch Etchachan near where Moira broke her ankle a couple of hours later.
First glimpse of Loch Avon.
It was steep and rocky and we had to be careful. A couple of times we had to lower ourselves down and the dogs watched with tails wagging nervously. They seem to understand when we find it difficult and wait patiently before moving on.
We finally reached the loch. Here's Jack with Shelter Crag behind.
At the foot of Shelter Crag is the famous Shelter Stone which has room under it for five people to shelter if the weather turns bad.
Here's Tess with the inevitable stone in mouth.
We had to climb the slope ahead but before that had a long detour to cross the river.
Looking back the way we came.
Loch Avon.
At the top the path went through a wet area which required boulder-hopping and Moira missed her footing and fell. Her ankle was very painful and sitting at a strange angle so we guessed it was broken. The only people we had met all day were nearby when it happened and because we had no mobile reception they raced off to find a place from where they could phone for help.
While we waited for help to come Moira was perched on the rock where she had fallen as it was too wet to lay her down and elevate the ankle. The dogs curled up beside us to wait and after a while Jack got up and sat down right beside Moira leaning in to her as if he knew she was injured. It was a touching moment. Just 90 minutes after Moira's fall the rescue helicopter arrived.
It dropped a flare to see which way the wind was blowing.
Circled round
And landed close by.
Tess is nervous of loud noise so I had put her on the lead long before it arrived in case she bolted. I assumed I'd have to walk out of there on my own because I had the dogs but the RAF guys said they would take us. Walking towards the helicopter was very hard for the dogs as the noise of the rotor blades was terrifying. Jack twice slipped his collar and I've never seen him so frightened. But he came to me each time and we managed to lift them on board.
As soon as I sat down Tess jumped on my knee and Jack curled up beside me and they didn't move for the entire journey. It's not the best photo as Tess was on top of me. We had head phones on to cut out the noise but the dogs had to endure it. The guys said they sometimes have problems with dogs and helicopters but that these two were very good.
They stretchered Moira on board.
It was amazing to see the area we had just walked from the air!
And views you wouldn't see from the ground.
When we reached Raigmore hospital I waited for Moira to be lifted into a waiting ambulance. Then I jumped out holding two rucksacks, four walking poles with two dogs on leads and was pulled across the tarmac as they hurtled into the ambulance! The nurse looked a bit surprised to see dogs on board but said it was fine and that's how Jack and Tess ended up in the middle of A & E being fussed by the nurses! Moira's ankle was broken in three places and badly dislocated. She had to be manipulated twice in A & E and was very brave. She's now had surgery to put pins in the broken bones and hopes to get a hard cast on tomorrow and home on Tuesday.
She's already talking about the next time we climb that hill we'll tackle it from the other side so I guess there's no holding her down! The guys from RAF Kinloss were fantastic and if it wasn't for Moira having so much pain it would have been a great adventure. I was so proud of Jack and Tess who coped so well. The next day when out walking a low flying jet went over and for the first time Jack jumped. I'm wondering if this is temporary or if he'll have a permanent fear of aircraft after his close encounter with a helicopter.
Kathleen
This is the path leading to the steep drop down to Loch Avon. In the top right you can see remote Loch Etchachan near where Moira broke her ankle a couple of hours later.
First glimpse of Loch Avon.
It was steep and rocky and we had to be careful. A couple of times we had to lower ourselves down and the dogs watched with tails wagging nervously. They seem to understand when we find it difficult and wait patiently before moving on.
We finally reached the loch. Here's Jack with Shelter Crag behind.
At the foot of Shelter Crag is the famous Shelter Stone which has room under it for five people to shelter if the weather turns bad.
Here's Tess with the inevitable stone in mouth.
We had to climb the slope ahead but before that had a long detour to cross the river.
Looking back the way we came.
Loch Avon.
At the top the path went through a wet area which required boulder-hopping and Moira missed her footing and fell. Her ankle was very painful and sitting at a strange angle so we guessed it was broken. The only people we had met all day were nearby when it happened and because we had no mobile reception they raced off to find a place from where they could phone for help.
While we waited for help to come Moira was perched on the rock where she had fallen as it was too wet to lay her down and elevate the ankle. The dogs curled up beside us to wait and after a while Jack got up and sat down right beside Moira leaning in to her as if he knew she was injured. It was a touching moment. Just 90 minutes after Moira's fall the rescue helicopter arrived.
It dropped a flare to see which way the wind was blowing.
Circled round
And landed close by.
Tess is nervous of loud noise so I had put her on the lead long before it arrived in case she bolted. I assumed I'd have to walk out of there on my own because I had the dogs but the RAF guys said they would take us. Walking towards the helicopter was very hard for the dogs as the noise of the rotor blades was terrifying. Jack twice slipped his collar and I've never seen him so frightened. But he came to me each time and we managed to lift them on board.
As soon as I sat down Tess jumped on my knee and Jack curled up beside me and they didn't move for the entire journey. It's not the best photo as Tess was on top of me. We had head phones on to cut out the noise but the dogs had to endure it. The guys said they sometimes have problems with dogs and helicopters but that these two were very good.
They stretchered Moira on board.
It was amazing to see the area we had just walked from the air!
And views you wouldn't see from the ground.
When we reached Raigmore hospital I waited for Moira to be lifted into a waiting ambulance. Then I jumped out holding two rucksacks, four walking poles with two dogs on leads and was pulled across the tarmac as they hurtled into the ambulance! The nurse looked a bit surprised to see dogs on board but said it was fine and that's how Jack and Tess ended up in the middle of A & E being fussed by the nurses! Moira's ankle was broken in three places and badly dislocated. She had to be manipulated twice in A & E and was very brave. She's now had surgery to put pins in the broken bones and hopes to get a hard cast on tomorrow and home on Tuesday.
She's already talking about the next time we climb that hill we'll tackle it from the other side so I guess there's no holding her down! The guys from RAF Kinloss were fantastic and if it wasn't for Moira having so much pain it would have been a great adventure. I was so proud of Jack and Tess who coped so well. The next day when out walking a low flying jet went over and for the first time Jack jumped. I'm wondering if this is temporary or if he'll have a permanent fear of aircraft after his close encounter with a helicopter.
Kathleen
What Drama! As if the magnificent scenery wasn't enough, you managed to remember to keep the camera going to get photos specially for us. 
Wow!
Stunning pictures and scenery. Jack and Tess were very brave in the hilicopter, braver than I would have been, and to take pictures too. 