With snow now on the hills, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) is urging outdoor enthusiasts to get out and enjoy the mountains, but to check first that they are equipped for winter in a bid to reduce the number of safety related incidents at this time of year. Heather Morning, Mountain Safety Adviser with the Mountaineering Council of Scotland advises: “Shorter daylight hours, dropping temperatures and the first dusting of snow on the hill are all good indicators that it is time to think about extra kit in your rucksack. It’s easy to get caught out after the clocks…

The Canadian mountaineer Barry Blanchard has won this year’s Boardman Tasker Award for Mountain Literature with his book “The Calling: A Life Rocked by Mountains.” Described as a gripping account of a climbers life from humble beginnings in Calgary to epic adventures in the great ranges. Known as ‘The bonatti of the Rockies’, Barry has been at the cutting edge of high altitude climbing for many years and his book is an honest an visceral account of a life devoted to climbing at the highest levels, both on rock and ice. The judges described the book as, “one of the…

Avalanche forecasts for Scottish hillwalkers and climbers will start this year on 17 December. The Sportscotland Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) provides a daily avalanche hazard report for six Scottish areas – Lochaber, Glencoe, Creag Meagaidh, Southern Cairngorms, Northern Cairngorms and Torridon. The service usually runs until mid-April but is dependent on the snow conditions. Anyone planning a hillwalk during the winter is advised to check the avalanche service in the same way as they would routinely check the weather forecast and plan their route accordingly. Some snow is already lying on higher, eastern mountains with heavy snowfalls predicted for the…

The line up has been announced for next year’s Fort William Mountain Festival taking place from Wednesday 17 to Sunday 21 February 2016. Festival organisers say that February is the perfect time of year to experience the stunning landscape of Fort William and Lochaber first hand, with the best winter walking, climbing and snowsport conditions of the year. The Festival offers talks from top climbers and mountaineers, mountain bikers, back country skiers and mountain filmmakers, together with exhilarating film screenings from cutting edge outdoor athletes and adventurers; mountain skills workshops and exhibitions. The Scottish Awards for Excellence in Mountain Culture…

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) is again offering a series of mountain safety talks this winter and has just announced the dates. In this free lecture, Heather Morning, the Mountain Safety Advisor at the MCofS will share her beautiful photography, videos, personal anecdotes and adventures, while discussing essential skills for winter navigation, avalanche awareness, route choice, equipment, mountain weather and much more. With a lifetime’s experience in the mountains, Heather has been a professional mountaineer for 25 years and for the last 12 years has been an active member of the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team. Places are free but…