The Ben Nevis rescue team have hit out after their emergency shelter at the summit was used as a rubbish bin and toilet.
Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team have slammed hillwalking louts who trashed the lifeline facility, which is used for treating casualties and storing rescue equipment.
Mercy crews took to Facebook to highlight the issue as they posted pictures of the mess.
The shelter could be seen covered in litter, with tins and wrappers discarded on the ground.
The walls could also be seen to be covered in graffiti - and one hiker told how they could smell urine inside the facility.
The Lochaber team said: "We’d just like to stress that the summit shelter on Ben Nevis is for emergency use only and not for having lunch inside.
"It’s certainly not a rubbish bin or toilet either, and in its current state we are unable to use it to treat casualties or easily retrieve rescue equipment if required."
Revellers commented on the post saying they had noticed the mess at the shelter.
One said: "I was up Nevis last August, when I looked in I could smell pee sadly."
Another added: "Beggars belief. I hope whoever contributed to that mess gets to read this post. If so, they ought to get themselves back up there and start to clear it up."
The rescue team say they plan to spend a day decontaminating the shelter.
They added: "The leaving of rubbish is one thing, the fact that people are using it as a toilet is simply mind boggling."
Meanwhile the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team warned hillwalkers not to be fooled by the balmy conditions on the ground.
A walker sustained a leg injury on Thursday afternoon and had to be rescued in snowy conditions near the top.
The rescue team said: "With all the sun we’ve been getting over the past week it might be hard to believe it’s still very wintery up on the higher tops.
"Thursday afternoon the team were called to assist a walker at the top of the zig zags on Ben Nevis who’d sustained a lower leg fracture.
"With cloud cover relatively low, R151 were able to lift team members to half way where they were able to carry on to access the casualty on foot.
"The casualty was treated and packaged then carried down to the waiting helicopter at halfway Lochan.
"As usual a big thanks to all team members and helicopter crew."
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