Missing Scottish Hillwalker Leaves Messages in the Snow for Rescuers

A missing hillwalker was clever enough to leave clues in the snow so that rescuers would know where to search. The walker had set out across the Cairngorms (Scottish Gaelic: Am Monadh Ruadh) a mountain range in the eastern Highlands of Scotland. His plan had been to reach Aviemore (Scottish Gaelic: An Aghaidh Mhòr) but was reported as overdue at his accommodation. Although the man had left details of his planned route and was well equipped, once missing the Braemar and Cairngorm mountain rescue teams were deployed to search for him.

As conditions deteriorated the hillwalker had sought refuge in Corrour Bothy. A bothy is a basic shelter, usually left unlocked and available for anyone to use free of charge, often found in remote mountainous areas of Scotland and particularly common in the Scottish Highlands. Corrour Bothy is maintained  by the Mountain Bothies Association (MBA) a Scottish registered charity. Weather conditions had eventually improved enough for the hillwalker to leave Corrour Bothy, but there was no mobile phone connections to inform anyone looking for him.

He decided to draw his name and arrows in the snow at various locations to show that he was safe and heading in a particular direction. Fortunately no fresh snow covered the clues. So saving rescuers from searching in other areas and focus on the direction the arrows were pointed towards. Eventually the rescue teams were stood down after the man managed to reach Braemar (Scottish Gaelic Bràigh Mhàrr) where as luck would have it, the first person he met was a member of the local mountain rescue team.

Images: Courtesy of Braemar Mountain Rescue Team.