A north mountain rescue team leader is “baffled” and “frustrated” with the search for a hillwalker who went missing in Glencoe 10 days ago.
Robert Garton, of Devizes in Wiltshire, was last seen after setting off for a walk in the area on Friday, September 25.
The 69-year-old was reported missing last Monday after failing to meet up with family and friends in the Kinlochewe area.
Searches have been ongoing through the week, and yesterday 21 members from Glencoe and Lochaber mountain rescue teams were out from 9am to 5pm.
Glencoe Mountain Rescue’s team leader, Andy Nelson, said: “We have had such good conditions with the weather and there has been about 1,000 man hours completed this week. In 50 years of rescues, everywhere that people usually fall in to has been searched and more. It is very frustrating and baffling. Either something is very different or we need more information.”
Yesterday searches took place on both sides of the A82 road, with the focus on the north side of the Aonach Eagach ridge which runs east to west along the north side of Glencoe.
Mr Garton had been staying at the Kings House Hotel at the southern end of Glencoe and he had indicated to staff at the hotel that he was planning to walk on this ridge.
His car has since been found a few miles further north at the Achnambeithach car park.
On Saturday, Glencoe Mountain Rescue team were joined by Arrochar Mountain Rescue members, police search teams and the Search and Rescue Dog Association.
A meeting will be held with police and rescue teams this morning to discuss the ongoing search strategy.
On Friday, Mr Garton’s family issued a desperate appeal for information. His son Will said yesterday that his family had not given up hope, but admitted the odds were against finding him alive.
Mr Garton is an experienced mountaineer who has trekked and climbed several times in Nepal in his work as the founder of The Glacier Trust.
He set up the charity in 2008 to help understand the effect of climate change at altitude in Nepal, having retired from his work as an international art dealer.