Rescuers approach one of the climbers in the gully, with team members below and the lights of Aviemore in the distance. Photo: Cairngorm MRT

Two climbers were rescued after getting stuck while soloing a winter route on Cairn Gorm.

Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team was called out about 4pm on Saturday when the two men became cragfast on Jacob’s Ladder in Coire an t-Sneachda.

The rescuers said the route is normally a grade I winter climb but because of thin conditions in the gully it is more like a grade III at present. The climbers were not using ropes.

A Cairngorm MRT spokesperson said: “Twenty-four members of the team were called out. A couple of the guys were finishing up with the Cairngorm Ski Patrol, so they went over the summit on skis and located the pair, climbed down about 100ft and made sure they were safely attached to a top rope.

“Meanwhile, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency helicopter was a tremendous help, flying in the rest of the team and heaps of technical gear. Initially the clag stopped them getting to the corrie rim.”

The spokesperson said a long lower, back down the gully, was avoided by taking the climbers up to the top of the crag.

“Coastguard rescue helicopter then took them to the CairnGorm Mountain ski centre, whose staff also need thanked for supporting the rescue.”

It was, the spokesperson said, a ‘Lovely evening with calm weather and a great view of the twinkling lights of Aviemore. All rather festive really’.