UP to 9000 homes in Scotland remained without electricity last night after severe weather hampered the mission to restore power, with parts of Arran and Kintyre now facing days without mains supply.

Power engineers are being frustrated by blocked roads and snowdrifts up to 12ft tall as they battle to reconnect homes.

Supplies of blankets, medical provisions and generators are being distributed to the areas as Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) deal with the "very unusual circumstances" caused by collapsed steel towers in the high-voltage transmission network that connects the Kintyre peninusla and Arran.

A woman in her 80s was airlifted from Pirnmill on north-west Arran to hospital on the mainland suffering from mild hypothermia and is recovering in Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock.

Meanwhile, police and mountain rescue services dealt with the 13th climber to die in Scotland this year. The body of 57-year-old James Jack, known as Jim, from Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, was discovered in Glenfinnan.

On Arran, hotels with generators have been supplying hot drinks and shelter to hundreds of residents left without heat, and last night 1500 homes on Arran, and 4000 in Kintyre remain without electricity.

Lamlash Community Fire Station opened its doors to provide hot drinks and shelter.

Whiting Bay Hall and Auchrannie Spa and Country House, in Brodick, Arran, were opened up for islanders.

Gordon Hay, business development manager at the Aurchrannie Spa and Country House, said: "People are definitely fed up now – we have had power loss before but never had it like this. We have a generator but we are careful using it."

Eleanor McAllister, who works at the Kinloch Hotel on the west side of Arran, said community spirit was good but the past three days had been difficult. It's been horrendous, but we had medical supplies and food helicoptered in and we have our own generator, so people have been coming in for teas," she said.

Richard Wright spoke of his lucky escape after he, his wife and two grandchildren were plucked to safety by a mountain rescue team after seven-hours trapped in their snowbound car.

Mr and Mrs Wright were taken to hospital in Lamlash with Isla, four, and Cameron, two – but were discharged soon afterwards. Mr Wright, father of former Scotland cricket captain Craig Wright, said: "It was a long haul, but the kids were fantastic. Thankfully we had lots of blankets and plenty of food."

All schools on Arran are to remain closed today.

A further 2000 homes in Dumfries and Galloway are also waiting to be reconnected following the snow and heavy winds. And several roads in the Highlands, Tayside, Grampian and Dumfries and Galloway remain closed, including the A83 to Campbeltown.

An SSE statement said several areas would still be without even generator power overnight and a spokesman said it was "too early to say" when the pylons would be repaired.

Keith Brown, the Transport Minister, chaired a Scottish Government Resilience meeting to co-ordinate the response.

Mr Brown said: "Power has been restored to a number of customers and hot meals or alternative accommodation are being offered to others and some key roads have re-opened."

James Robb, leader of Argyll and Bute Council, said: "There has been a tremendous effort involved by everyone over the past couple of days in what have been atrocious conditions."

The coastguard used boats to deliver supplies and offer assistance where needed.

A spokesman for Belfast coastguard, which covers the area, said: "We've got a 4x4 helping and boats are taking blankets and provisions from the mainland to places like Lochranza, which is cut off by road."

A ScottishPower spokeswoman said: "Engineers worked through the night on Saturday and from first light on Sunday to reconnect customers still off supply in south-west Scotland.

"The main locations affected on Sunday were in Wigtownshire and Barrhill, with just under 3000 homes off supply. At 6pm approximately 1500 further homes had been reconnected

"We have more than 200 engineers working in the area today, and hope to restore most customers to night either by the main lines or by generator.

"If there are any properties we cannot reach, we will look to offer an alternative option, such as hotel accommodation."

A yellow weather warning of ice remains in place for southern Scotland with melting snow on roads liable to cause problems for drivers this morning.