A walker who was rescued from the Cairngorms in horrendous weather conditions last night had “all the gear but no idea”, according to mountain rescuers.
The 38-year-old from Brighton, who has not been named, became exhausted while descending the Highland mountain range.
He battled through waist-deep snowdrifts and severe gales before contacting emergency services before 6pm.
He sent a series of text messages to the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team, who sent five members out on the hill to find him.
They found the man just 450 yards away from the Ciste car park in the ski area.
Team leader Willie Anderson said that the man had “all the gear but no idea”.
Mr Anderson said that the walker had gone for a walk on the peak known as 1141 and then to the Ptarmigan restaurant.
He then descended into the Ciste but hit large snow drifts.
Mr Anderson said: “Then he decided to follow the burn by walking through it. It was blizzard conditions and temperatures were plummeting.
“He had excellent equipment except a head torch. His only torch was his mobile phone.
“He was not hypothermic and not hurt.”
Rescued walker went into Cairngorms without a head torch