Avalanche forecasts for Scottish hillwalkers and climbers start today, 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.

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…