Life of Aviemore man Sam Burns who lost his life in Cairngorms ski accident is celebrated by family and friends in his beloved mountains
Family and friends of an expert skier who lost his life in the Cairngorms just before Christmas have come together to remember him in the best possible way - in his beloved snow-covered mountains.
Sam Burns, of Aviemore, was touring in the Northern Cairngorms on December 13, last year, when tragedy struck whilst steep-skiing Y Gully.
Saturday’s ‘Ski for Sam’ was organised by the Inverness Backcountry Snowsports Club (IBSC) to celebrate the life of their 40-year-old club member and good friend.
Mr Burns’ mother Jane and sister Amy and her family joined the group and were able to see for themselves why Mr Burns loved the Cairngorms so much.
After such a poor snow season, amazingly and right on cue the snow arrived overnight and a big turnout of his skiing friends enjoyed their first Scottish sport for more than a month.
In the evening, the celebration of Mr Burns’ life continued with a memorial reception in the The View café in Aviemore directly above where Mr Burns had worked at Cairngorm Mountain Sports.
Many photos of Mr Burns were on display, and family, friends and colleagues had a chance to relax and enjoy a few drinks and pizza - his favourite food.
IBSC president Brendan Hughes said: “It was my pleasure to be with Sam’s family for the day, to be able to talk about Sam and show them this place that he loved to be and where he was making a new life.
“It really was the best way we could all say our goodbyes to such a special person.”
The club had been in discussion with Mr Burns’ family for a celebration of his life.
Mr Hughes said they were keen to come to the Cairngorms and experience the place Mrs Burns loved so much and also to visit the place where he lost his life.
As the Cairngorms can be a challenging place at any time of year, the IBSC wanted to help the family fulfil their wish but safely so the Easter weekend was agreed as the best time.
Mr Hughes explained: “The weekend offered the best chance of some late snow for some skiing – the most fitting tribute we could pay for Sam - but with a better chance of good weather for the family who had travelled up from near Cheltenham to get up into the mountains.
“As it turned out some late spring snow came at just the right time and Easter Saturday saw two groups heading up from the Cairngorm Mountain car park – one with his family and club members who were walking and then a bigger group of members and friends who brought their skis.”
All gathered in the blowing snow at Point 1141 for some words of commemoration from family and friends ‘in an atmospheric and moving moment’.
The two groups then set off to cross the plateau in improving weather, revealing the grandeur of this special place.
After further refection at the top of Y Gully, the skiers went on over the soft spring snow to enjoy several laps skiing lovely fresh snow at Corie Domhain whilst the family returned back to the ski centre.
The View café owners kindly made their venue available to IBSC
Rachel Thomas, IBSC membership secretary, told the Strathy: “Sam was not only a dear friend of ours but also a brilliant mountaineer.
“It was only fitting to spend time in the mountains remembering him together. He was always passionate about adventure, especially if it involved snow.
“He was dedicated to the snow hunt and would ski later into the season than any of us, regardless of the quantity of quality of the snow.
“After such a poor ski season, it felt only right that we celebrated our friend Sam by skiing on a small patch of snow. He would have loved it.”
Club vice-president Ben White said: “Sam’s enthusiasm for the mountains was contagious and we fondly remembered his adventurous spirit and the many memories we shared with him.
“Sam was incredibly kind and humble. Despite never drawing attention to himself, he had a knack of bringing people together.
“This was evident on Saturday as people travelled from near and far to celebrate and remember Sam.”
Mr Burns had moved to the strath just a year before he was killed in the ski accident.
He had last been in contact with friends at around 11.30am on the Friday when he was skiing alone.
The alarm was raised when he failed to return to his van parked at Cairngorm Mountain.
A large-scale search involving the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team, RAF Mountain Rescue and the HM Coastguard helicopter was launched.
His body was found around 11am the next day by the search and rescuers.
