Missing walker left messages in the snow in Cairngorms to assist rescue
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A missing walker has been praised for his initiative after leaving messages written in the snow for rescuers after he was reported overdue by his concerned family.
Members of Cairngorm and Braemar rescue teams were called out earlier today to search for the man.
A Braemar Mountain Rescue Team spokesman said: "The first search we’ve ever had where the missing chap was clever enough to leave us messages in the snow so we knew where to look.
"He’s now safe and well."
The man, who was in the early 40s, was doing a circular route in the Cairngorms lasting several days returning through the Lairig Ghru pass.
But when he became overdue, concerned family members raised the alarm.
However the man, who was from Surrey, spelt his name with directional arrows in the snow to make it clear he was making his way off the hill.
Iain Cornfoot, leader of Cairngorm Mountain Rsecue Team, said: "He had spent the previous night in the Corrour Bothy and signed the visitors book so at least we knew he made it to that point.
"But he deviated from his planned route because of the weather on the high pass and started to retrace his steps back to Braemar.
"At least he he had written his name and an arrow in the snow which helped the Braemar team.
"He had a battery phone charger with him but he may not have had phone signal."
