Hamish MacInnes, Scotland's greatest ever climber, dies at 90

Everest: MacInnes was one of the most respected authorities on mountaineering in Europe

Scotland’s greatest ever climber, Dr Hamish MacInnes has died at the age of 90.

Tributes have been paid to Scotland’s greatest ever climber, and renowned inventor, movie stunt co-orinator and writer, Dr Hamish MacInnes after he passed away at the age of 90.

Dr MacInnes passed away at his home in Glen Coe on Sunday night.

Born in Gatehouse of Fleet, but based in Glen Coe, Dr MacInnes was known as a legend amongst climbers.

He conquered the Mattehorn in the alps at the age of 16 and made two attempts at Mount Everest later in life.

“He had much endurance as a winter climber during the fifties and sixties when climbers didn't benefit from the gear we have today”, said Neil Reid from the Mounteneering Scotland Society.

Dr McInnes, also known as “Fox of Glencoe” for his esteemed climbing reputation, made headlines when he was asked to shoot footage for Clint Eastwood's 1975 thriller The Eiger Sanction.

Besides his climbing expertise, he was well known as a writer, inventor and rescuer.

He was involved in the founding of Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team - leading the team for many years - as well as the Search and Rescue Dog Association and the setting up of the Scottish Avalanche Information Service.

He is credited with inventing the all-metal ice axe and the first ůigh-weight portable stretcher. “The axe was a major breakthrough- it had an angled pick which enabled climbers to hook up to the ice and pull themselves up”, describes Reid.

He wrote the International Mountain Rescue Handbook in 1972, which became known as the “bible for climbers”.