Mountaineers have paid tribute to an “experienced” climber and skier who died in the Cairngorms.
Sam Burns, 40, was last heard from by his friends at around 11.30am on Friday during a solo skiing trip in the Cairngorms.
Police made an appeal for help in finding Sam, saying he had failed to return to his van, which was parked at Cairngorm Mountain.
However, a body was found in the Cairngorms at around 11am on Saturday.
A police spokesperson said: “Around 11am on Saturday, the body of a man was found in the Cairngorms.
“Formal identification is yet to take place, but the family of 40-year-old missing man Sam Burns has been informed.
“There do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances, and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”
Mountaineers fall silent in memory of Sam Burns
Brendan Hughes president of Inverness Backcountry Snowsports Club, took to social media to share the news with members.
He said: “It is with great sadness I have to tell you that club member Sam Burns lost his life whilst ski touring in the northern Cairngorms on Friday.
“Sam was reported overdue by friends and he was found after a search involving Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team, RAF Mountain Rescue and the HM Coastguard helicopter.
“Sam was a very fit and hugely experienced mountaineer and skier and had just in the last 12 months, made a number of very significant achievements in the mountains, both on club trips and out with others, including skiing many of the most coveted steep lines in Scotland, the ‘Tower Double’ on Ben Nevis and a very fast traverse of the Skye Cullin in the summer.
“He was both highly competent and capable in the mountains and one of the club’s leading lights.”
Describing Sam as a “great friend”, the club president added: “I know many of you will have questions, but now is the time for us to mourn the loss of a great friend and celebrate a life lived very much to the full.
“As a club, we will look for an appropriate way to remember Sam, but for now if you want to help, please make a donation to Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team or to your local mountain rescue team directly or via Scottish Mountain Rescue.
“They are the ones who we rely on when the situation is at its worst and deserve all our respect and support.”
‘We wish to pass our deepest sympathies to Sam’s family’
Mountaineers from both Cairngorm and Braemar Mountain Rescue Teams searched the Cairngorms alongside teams from RAF Lossiemouth, SARDA and the Highland Coastguard.
A statement from Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team said: “This morning (Saturday), CMRT were out searching for missing ski tourer Sam Burns.
“Shortly after 11am, team members alongside Rescue 151 found the body of Sam in Y Gully on the South side of the Cairngorm Plateau.
“We wish to pass on our deepest sympathies to Sam’s family, friends and colleagues.
“Thanks to RAF Lossiemouth, Braemar MRT, Aberdeen MRT, SARDA and Highland Coastguard for their assistance with this call out.”
Conversation