When these two woke at 6.0 am the weather had deteriorated considerably; there was a gale blowing. Again they tried to cross the pass, but couldn't make it even with the gale behind them. They were forced to retreat and, at 9.15 am, they met the other three near a small lochan.

The other three had woken about 6.30 am after a comfortable night to a blizzard of unprecedented violence which had been blowing then for two hours. Their hands became numb immediately they took them out of their sleeping bags. Their boots and laces were frozen and they had great difficulty getting these on. It was impossible to cook, nor did they eat anything uncooked, as they hadn't far to go to Corrour in one direction, four miles to Ben Alder Cottage in the other. Anyway, they were having great difficulty, in view of their numbed hands and everything else being frozen, in even opening their rucksacks.

They started out in the direction Ben Alder Cottage at 8.0am. The decision to go on was taken partly because they thought Bradburn and Grieve would be over the pass by now and waiting for them at the cottage - and they would be anxious if the rendezvous were not kept, but also because it hadn't occurred to them that they wouldn't be able to cross the pass, particularly with the wind behind them.

When they met the other two by the lochan at 9.15 am they all turned and started to retreat down the glen, back towards Loch Ossian and Corrour. Not long afterwards Grieve started to stagger and the others took it in turns, two at a time, to help him. The wind was exceptionally strong and at times they were unable to stand against it. They reached the bivouac site (that the party of three had used) at 10.0am where they left their rucksacks and pushed on. Grieve was very close to exhaustion now and was being supported by the Tewnions. Black and Bradburn were ahead at first, making the trail, but about half a mile from the bivouac site they changed places with the Tewnions. Shortly after this Grieve died.

They pushed on for another half mile, when Black began to stagger and to trip over grass tussocks. Tewnion, too, was waving and falling. It seemed, to Ann Tewnion that she was always helping someone to his feet. As soon as she got one up, another had gone down. At last she saw the trees of Corrour Ledge ahead, and she told Black and Tewnion, trying to spur them on. But they were too far gone; they eyes were glassy, and she didn't think they understood her.

She decided to stay with them while the fittest man, John Bradburn, went on the Courrour for help.
Continue to page 4