Visitors to Ben Nevis summit may be surprised to learn that some of the newly erected 1.8m high cairns constructed to aid navigation have been virtually buried in snow.

The MCofS Mountain Safety Advisor Heather Morning, warns hillwalkers and climbers visiting the summit of Ben Nevis to be extra vigilant. The three cairns which mark the change in bearing around the top of Gardyloo Gully are now virtually buried in snow. Careful attention should be paid to judging distance by pacing and walking on a bearing in poor visibility to descend off the summit plateau safely. More details regarding navigating on the summit plateau of Ben Nevis can be viewed here. Walkhighlands also has a description of the Ben Nevis ascent.

This year looks set to offer gruelling mountain marathons at both ends of the country. First up is the Highlander Mountain Marathon set to take place somewhere in the north of Scotland in April, and later in the summer the Original Mountain Marathon (OMM) will be run in the south west of England.

The Highlander, sponsored by Haglofs, and organised by Hands on Events, will take place over the weekend of 10/11 April. It will follows the traditional mountain marathon format in which teams of two navigate their way around a two-day course in the Highlands. A £500 prize for winners of A Class Mens, Womens and Mixed is being offered.

The exact location of the start is traditionally kept secret until a few days before the event takes place, although the organisers have said that it will be within 2 hours of Inverness and in the north of Scotland. A range of courses are available which enables the event to cater for elite athletes to first timers. And finally there will be a welcome midway marquee with hot food, traditional Scottish music and ceilidh dancing. For further info visit the website.

In August the OMM will take place in the south west of England, probably on either Dartmoor, Exmoor or Bodmin Moor. The OMM is the originator of the 2 day mountain marathon type event and is for teams of 2, carrying all clothing, equipment, tent, sleeping bag, food for 36 hours, navigating one’s own route and including an overnight camp. Teams are totally self supporting, no GPS or outside support is allowed and teams not arriving at the the overnight camp are assumed to have camped safely. This tough event, which this year, will feature an additional class, will be held on 2 August. Further details and entry here.

One of the highest impacts on wildness reported to the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) is continued construction of new hill tracks. Ugly and environmentally damaging hill tracks are built every year with no requirement that they are considered through the planning system. Beautiful wild areas, appreciated by Scotland’s residents and visitors, are being blighted by these uncontrolled eyesores. The national importance of this has finally come to the notice of the Scottish Parliament. Peter Peacock MSP – following discussions with MCofS Access and Conservation Officer Hebe Carus – raised the issue at Parliamentary Questions in response to Hebe’s highlighting the incremental reduction in wild areas. Government figures show that between 2002 and 2005, the area of Scotland unaffected by views of man-made developments fell from 42% to 32%.

Now the campaign needs your help. Hebe says “I regularly receive photographs of outstandingly badly constructed tracks through previously wild areas, even in supposedly protected areas. The sad thing is that these are irreversible and completely uncontrolled through the planning system. The longer the review of Permitted Development Rights (PDR) is delayed the more of wild Scotland will be lost forever. PDR are regulations that are quite complicated, but basically permit landowners, without any permission or control, to construct tracks for forestry or agricultural reasons. Many of these tracks are in upland areas where there are only a few sheep or where an unviable plantation exists.

“The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 is supposed to modernise the planning system for the benefit of the people and environment of Scotland, but the implementation timetable is being permitted to slip repeatedly. There has already been more than a 3 year delay since a report by Heriot-Watt University, commissioned by the Scottish Executive, clearly recommended an extensive overhaul of the uncontrolled rights of landowners to construct hill tracks through our beautiful wild areas. The Scottish Government has taken no action on this. Unless there is considerable pressure put on the Scottish Government, the planned tightening of the system of controls will slip so far into the future that it has no prospect of being considered in this Scottish Parliament.

“Peter Peacock MSP is putting a Motion to Parliament to call for action. To gain generally parliamentary support, which is the only way the Motion will have notice taken of it, requires support from the electorate. Search for the Motion using “tracks” as keyword from this page. Please sign the e-petition here or write to your MSP as soon as possible. There is also the opportunity to add comments to the petition from the same webpage. After that date you may still be able to add your name by contacting petitions@scottish.parliament.uk. You can search for who is your MSP and their contact details here, and save our wild country from disappearing!

The largest charity organisation dedicated to the protection of Scottish wildlife has called for starving deer to be culled across Scotland.

Calling for an extension of the stalking season of female deer which ended earlier last month (15 February) in line with current legislation (Deer (Scotland) Act 1996), the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) today claimed that culling starving animals which are battling to survive through harsh winter conditions, would prevent inhumane suffering as well as helping to halt further damage to Scotland’s environment.

Simon Milne, SWT’s Chief Executive, explained: “We are a wildlife protection charity calling for more deer to be culled. I understand that this might surprise some people, but our reasoning is sound. Red deer numbers have been steadily increasing in recent decades to the point where, in some areas, they are causing damage to the natural environment. The most obvious impact is on young trees that have little chance of growing into the forests of future when large numbers of deer are browsing for food.

“As the harsh winter weather continues, some wildlife species are struggling to cope. Red deer are facing a double whammy – they were already stressed because too many animals were competing for limited food resources and now they are being subjected to a long and cold winter. Our deer are ill-equipped to deal with prolonged winters because, by and large, they are living in conditions that do not suit them. Red deer are really a woodland species and the now treeless environment of many parts of Scotland simply does not satisfy their basic need for shelter, particularly in bad weather. Too many deer and not enough food is resulting in starvation.”

“In parts of Scotland large numbers of deer can currently be seen gathered at roadsides pawing the snow in an attempt to uncover the frozen vegetation . Rapidly losing condition due to exposure and lack of food many will slowly starve to death. Extending the culling season means that stalkers can continue to shoot any deer that are suffering or too weak to survive until the spring.”

“There is no quick fix to this problem, in fact it will take decades to achieve a balanced deer population. Deer numbers must be reduced in many areas to a sustainable level which is a difficult, time consuming and expensive business. The regeneration of our native highland woodland is a priority and requires a massive, sustained and long term effort to achieve; then we might start to see red deer living as they are meant to, as healthy forest animals. The SWT hopes these are problems which will be addressed in the forthcoming Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill.”

Deer populations in Scotland have reached an unsustainably high level due to the absence of any natural predators. Scotland is home to two native deer species, the red deer and the roe deer. Together it is thought there are over 350,000 deer inhabiting Scotland today, around twice the population of half a century ago.

SAIS Avalanche Hazard Statement 26 February 2010

There will be a high avalanche hazard in all of the mountain areas of Scotland for the start of the weekend- in particular on slopes that are to the lee of the prevailing wind which is forecasted to remain strong North-East to Easterly.
Therefore slopes that face South -South-West, West, North-West and Northerly mainly above 400 m will be affected with very unstable windslab . Slopes of moderate steepness are currently unstable ( over 15 degrees) Natural avalanches will occur and attention should be given to avalanche runout zones in corries and glens.

The snowfall will lessen over the weekend but the snowpack will remain weakly bonded and the hazard may well remain High due to the continuing cold temperatures and strong winds.

Good route choice is required when travelling in all mountain and hill terrain, and walkers, skiers and climbers should choose appropriate objectives and carry out good travel practice.

Scottish Avalanche Information Service

The tragic accident on Buachaille Etive Mor yesterday is being followed by large snowfalls forecast across much of the Highlands. Some of this snow is falling onto a layer of surface hoar which can lead to a very high risk of avalanches.

We would urge all walkers planning to take to the hills to take heed of the latest forecasts from the Scottish Avalanche Information service. The forecasts for today (Thursday) include a high risk on slope aspects ranging from north through west to south in all areas. You can access their forecasts via this link. Take care.