Christopher Walker (29), a mountain instructor from Cumbria and Robert Pritchard (37), from New Malden in Surrey, died last Wednesday after they were hit by a wall of snow on an area known as the Curved Ridge on Buchaille Etive Mor.

The two climbers were with a third man, who escaped being carried down the ridge. A party of walkers behind witnessed the incident and called the emergency services.

The bodies of the two men were recovered by Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team.

Meanwhile, two skiers were described as "extremely lucky" to have survived after being swept 2,000ft down a Glencoe mountain on Saturday.

The men, who police said were aged 32 and 26 respectively and from the Edinburgh area, were avalanched off Meall a' Bhuiridh, above Glencoe Mountain Resort, from a point 10ft away from the edge of a groomed piste.

They were said to be surveying potential off-piste runs down the north-east slope of the mountain when the snow on either side of them gave way.

John Grieve, leader of Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team, said the men were carried downhill for 2,000ft on a wave of snow, before being partially buried.

One man broke a leg and the other man had a serious knee injury, and they were taken to Belford Hospital in Fort William for treatment.

Mr Grieve said: "They were extremely lucky that they were not buried or hurt more badly.

"They were 10ft away from the edge of a groomed ski run when the snow gave way. Luckily for them, they rode on top for most of the way.

"They came to a halt near the bottom and the avalanche carried on right to the bottom of the glen."

Mr Grieve said the men were experienced skiers.

Of last Wednesday's avalanche on Buchaille Etive Mor, Mr Grieve said: "Two of the party set off a very small, slab avalanche that just took them off their feet, they fell a long way.

"It was very steep ground and they fell about 1,500ft, right down almost to the bottom of the mountain."

He said the other group of climbers met the uninjured member of the party. They then descended the mountain, checking areas where the two might be, until they located their bodies.

The survivor then used a handheld GPS unit to guide rescue teams to the spot where the bodies lay.

An ice climber who was rescued from Ben Nevis last Wednesday after falling 300ft remains in Glasgow's Southern General Hospital where he is being treated for head, leg and arm injuries.

He had been climbing in an area known as the Organ Pipes on the mountain's north face.

Northern Constabulary's Lochaber area commander, Chief Inspector John Chisholm said: "Any climbers going on to the hills should check the latest reports issued by the Scottish Avalanche Information Service and the latest weather reports."

The SAIS provides up to date information on avalanche risks at www.sais.gov.uk

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