Snow storm search in Lairg area - 1978
The following account was given by Martin Mackenzie of an extensive search by Forestry Commission workers and the police following a severe snow storm which cut off many people and crofters in their homes for a long period. The letter copied above was received by Martin from the Chief Constable Duncan Henderson of the Northern Constabulary.
"Back in January/February 1978 when I worked in Shin Forest (Office in Lairg) then managed by Hugh Mackay, Chief Forester, assisted by Alastair MacLeod and Mike Hollingsworth, Head Foresters, there was a severe snow storm which blocked many roads, broke the telephone and power lines and cut off many of the isolated crofting communities. Hugh was approached by the Northern Police chief, Donald Henderson, to assist with any emergencies and he willingly agreed to help out where possible.
I had been driving the Bombardier muskeg for two years spreading phosphate on the new planting sites (before I took over Shin Forest lorry) and one night got the message to report to the Shin Office at 7.00pm that evening. Once there I was asked by the police would I take Charlie McNeil (Forest Ranger) and Police Constable Gordon Carstairs out on the machine to check the isolated houses in the Lairg area, up towards the Crask and down towards Rogart. Concern was rising as there was no word if they were well or if they had run out of gas as a means of heating.
It was very dark with a bit of wind and showers of snow. It was quite a mission in these conditions as the snow drifts were 15 to 20 ft high and all the high exposed roads were completely impassable and the only access was via a light weight tracked machine such as the Muskeg. We took on some drums diesel and the three of us set off on this hazardous journey tackling the snow drifts as best we could. Charlie and Gordon stood on the outside of the machine, on the load platforms that ran either side of the narrow central cab built from front to back on this model. We had to take the snow drifts sideways on at an angle as there was no grip in the soft snow when going straight up. The Muskeg lights were skyward one moment and then down in the snow and it was very difficult to see a way ahead. Fortunately both Charlie and Gordon had a powerful hand torch each and I was able to see a way forward and Charlie, amazingly, was able to navigate his way around even with all familiar landmarks covered.
We travelled as far as up to the very isolated and exposed Crask Inn, a distance of over 12 miles, about half way back we detoured three miles into Dalnessie Lodge where they were very short of gas, and then to some of the crofts above Lairg at Saval , down the road towards Rogart to the Muie area crofts and back up and around the Torroble area before getting back to Lairg. When coming back down from Saval we ran past Charlie Gray’s house and over a large snow drift which we later heard was totally covering his garage and car! We went out again to a few places with cylinders of gas and returned to base, about 5.00am, almost ten hours after we had left. It was a long cold standing journey for the Charlie and Gordon.
Without Charlie’s excellent navigation in such difficult circumstances it could have been a very different story. The Muskeg was used again the following day, with Innes Macleod, Achany, driving, to call on the crofts in the Shinness area. We were also on standby to go to the blocked A9 near Berriedale but the rescue teams broke through to the buried cars and people but very sadly too late to save everyone.
It was shortly after wards that the above letter arrived from Chief Constable Donald Henderson".
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