Although many walkers, climbers and skiers have been enjoying the challenge of the recent snow in the Highlands, it is being predicted that the early snowfall this winter could mean many times more midges this summer. Previously it was thought that heavy frosts and prolonged cold killed off the midge larvae, leading to reduced numbers the following summer. However Dr Alison Blackwell from the Scottish Midge Forecast said that the deep snow that hit Scotland from November this year has acted as an insulating layer, keeping alive the larvae. Dr Blackwell told the Scotsman, “We thought that a hard ground…

This weekend saw a joint rescue operation to help a climber with a broken ankle following a fall in Point Five gully on Ben Nevis. Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team and a Royal Navy helicopter crew went to the aid of the climber on Saturday afternoon. The man had fallen in a narrow part of the gully and there was not enough space for the helicopter winchman to recover the injured man. It is thought his crampons snagged during the fall causing him to break one ankle and seriously hurt the other Later in the day members of the Rescue Team…

As the Mountaineering Council of Scotland’s (MCofS) winter safety talk series enters its last week, the organisers are hoping to be able to award a prize to the 1000th person attending. The evening events, which have been running since January in Aviemore, Glencoe, and at various Tiso stores, have proved very popular and the MCofS is hoping the target of 1000 attendees will be reached this week. On Tuesday (8 Mar) evening Tom Gilchrist will be speaking at the Clachaig in Glencoe, followed on Wednesday by David “Heavy” Whalley at the Mountain Cafe in Aviemore, & finally on Thursday its…

The sportscotland Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) has mapped all the reports of Scottish avalanches since 1999 so walkers and climbers can clearly see where and when avalanches have taken place. As well as being a fascinating map to browse, the 3000 or so avalanches graphically presented on the maps complement the avalanche hazard warning produced by SAIS as a useful planning tool for hill walkers and climbers. The SAIS relies on people out on the hills to report avalanche incidents, either directly witnessed, or evidence such as avalanche debris. Knowledge of recent avalanche activity is one of the best possible…