yet be strong enough to dig out the shelter. In any event, it is better that tired men should shelter until the storm has abated (the observations have shown that winds are always higher here at night and the temperatures lower) rather than to push on, using up those vital last reserves of energy in an attempt to reach the hut or valley.

The shelters are painted red for easy recognition, but the one near the observatory is completely covered by snow in a year of heavy precipitation. It might be a good idea if all climbers in good weather, with an hour or two to spare on top of the Ben, dug away, even partially, the drifted snow at the access end. There should be poles marking the sites, with shovels attached.

In causing these shelters to be erected The People did a great deal to alleviate the bad impression which is created by a singularly obnoxious type of reporter. There are only a few of these who give - or have given in the past - the profession a bad name, as mountaineering is given a bad name by a certain type of climber.

On one occasion a girl who had seen her friend killed on the Ben came down to Glen Nevis youth hostel with a boy to ask an RAF mountain rescue course for help. The Press arrived in force and besieged the hostel. The warden refused them admittance and locked the door. The girl and boy, distressed and badly shocked, had been put to rest in a room which possessed an outer door. Some reporters entered this room secretly and were interviewing the reluctant survivors when the RAF hearing voices, discovered them. They were summarily ejected.

It seems inconceivable that the editor of any British paper would approve of such conduct on the part of his employees. If the matter had been officially reported an apology might have been offered and those concerned would not then have retained such a bad impression of reporters. As it is, whenever Press activities invite comment in climbing circles, this incident is still quoted five or six years afterwards, and by men who have heard it at second and third hand.

There are Press photographers who attempt to take pictures of the body - not openly, but clandestinely. And on one occasion a picture was published of a team bringing down a corpse with one member in the act of throwing a stone at the photographer. The last fact was mentioned in the caption. Both sides were at fault, but the RAF had refused to allow pictures, and the photographer persisted. The team had been searching and carrying for many hours and nerves were stretched to breaking point. Continue to page 8