Three British climbers have been named who died on Mulhacen due to hypothermia.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4779564.stm

A Spanish Civil Guard spokesman added that they had not been equipped with proper clothing and footwear.

That is such a very sad thing to read if it really is true. (Added later: Two UK Newspaper Reports quoted the Civil Guard as stating they were properly equipped)

Even to a total newcomer to mountain hiking like me, (I don't climb), the very first thing covered in research was wearing decent footwear and clothes appropriate to what you are doing, where you are going, and suitable for actual and possible weather conditions. Just about every web site and book on the subject hammers that home time and time again.

(In view of the subsequent postings by me and someone else I've added the above note in italics. Relatives or friends of these three guys may one day stumble on this thread)

Three British mountaineers die in Sierra Nevada

Three British climbers die in the Sierra Nevada

[url=http://www.canalsur.es/Informativos/-ArchivoNoticias/2006/03.Marzo/06/060206-bp-007-LGR.htm]Los cuerpos de los tres británicos que perdieron la vida en el Mulhacén serán repatriados en las próximas horas
[/url]

Los familiares de los británicos fallecidos en el Mulhacén esperan la autopsia para repatriar los cuerpos

An imprudence again, it is very sad. Here in Spain the weather has been very bad the last weekend, it was snowy and very windy almost in the whole Iberian Peninsula. In Madrid there was a death because of a fallen roof due to the strong winds. We were going to go the mountains on sunday but we couldn't because of the rain/snow and wind, so we headed for Toledo. The conditions near Mulhacen summit would be dreadful, very low temperatures and blizzard

Just to put the record "straight" on this. The Civil Guard quote on the BBC News report was that they were NOT properly equipped. But the Daily Telegraph report states that the Civil Gard said they WERE properly equipped. That's news reporting for you I guess.

But whatever. They didn't make it.

The Guardian also says they were well equiped. One of their sleeping bags was found blown away. Here is a more detailed report of the tragedy.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/spain/article ... e_continue