STAFF and students at Alton College have paid tribute to a young climber who died on Monday after spending a night in "appalling" conditions in Scotland's often treacherous Cairngorms. Richard Hardy, 18, from Alton was climbing in the mountains west of Aberdeen with university colleague Graeme Cooper, 23, when the two were caught in what have been described as "extreme weather conditions". Both members of the University of Aberdeen Lairig mountaineering club, the pair were reported missing on Sunday after climbing in Coire an t-Sneachda. They were found by rescue teams on Monday morning and were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. They were about a mile from the Cairngorm ski area car park. According to Cairngorm Mountain Rescue team leader John Allen, it would have been a 20-minute walk from the spot to the car park on a good day. He told reporters that the pair had managed to walk two or three miles out from the climbing area after abseiling down, and most probably succumbed to the weather. Furthermore, there was evidence of an avalanche in the main Corrie. In a statement to the press Mr Allen is reported as saying that the two young climbers had done very well to get to where they were found, but were probably in a very poor condition by then. He added: "We believe that they got very exhausted after their climb." At one point 36 rescuers were out looking for the pair, all too aware that without shelter from the wind, it is almost impossible for a human being to survive on the Cairngorms overnight. The RAF, whose crews flew the two men off the mountain, said they were found lying on the hillside without any shelter and exposed to the full force of "horrendous" winds. Wind speeds would have resulted in temperatures as low as minus 20c overnight, they said. It appears that the two men had hitched a lift with eight friends from the Aberdeen University climbing club who were taking part in a safety course at Glenmore Lodge - to go climbing in Coire an t-Sneachda. Northern Constabulary said the group had agreed to meet up at the lodge later on Sunday. When the pair failed to turn up by 7-30 pm, the party became worried and raised the alarm. Cairngorm Mountain Rescue team members began a ground search of the area assisted by an RAF Rescue helicopter from Lossiemouth. However, worsening conditions forced the search to be called off until 8-45 am on Monday. Records show that the first man was located at about 10-52 am and he was airlifted to hospital in Inverness. The second was found an hour later, 400 years away, by search dogs and taken separately to hospital by a RAF Sea King helicopter. A police spokesman said: "Sadly both men died following their arrival at hospital." He said that conditions on the Cairngorms had been "appalling" on Sunday night and on Monday were not much better - rescuers had still been faced with driving wind and snow showers. A report into the circumstances of the incident will be submitted to the procurator fiscal. It has been confirmed that Richard Hardy was a first year student studying geography at the University of Aberdeen and that Graeme Cooper had graduated in July with an MA in the same subject, A spokesman for the university added: "We are deeply saddened to hear of the tragic deaths of one of our students and one of our graduates. "The university would like to express its most sincere condolences to the families of both men at this very sad and difficult time." Messages of condolence have been posted on the Lairig mountaineering club website. There have been condolences too from Alton College where Richard Hardy was a student, studying A levels and where he was said to be "inspired" by geography. Vice-principal Steve MacCormack said: "Richard was a capable student who had energy and stamina and was a dedicated sportsman. He was a very pleasant and likeable young person who was popular with both his teachers and peers. "Everyone at Alton College is very saddened to hear the terrible news of his death and our thoughts and best wishes go out to his parents and family at this very sad time."