A man who became trapped by a rock on Ben More, near Crianlarich, has died. The 62 year old became trapped on the Munro on Saturday morning and was pronounced dead at the scene. An extensive rescue effort was made including the Killin Mountain Rescue Team, firefighters and ambulance staff who used 4X4 vehicles to try and reach the man, who has not yet been named.
Expeditions Archive Online
The MCofS (Mountaineering Council of Scotland) has launched an on-line database of expedition reports on its website. The reports are from mountaineering expeditions, climbing trips and individuals based in Scotland that have received grant support from the MCofS. There are over 70 reports going back to 1981, when the MCofS was able to support expeditions for the first time with funding from sportscotland (then called the Scottish Sports Council). The areas of the world visited and the style of expedition are varied, from ski mountaineering crossings of Greenland, first ascents of remote peaks in the Coast Range of British Columbia…
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Famous osprey back at Loch of the Lowes
The bird thought to be oldest breeding female of its kind ever recorded in the UK has returned for the 20th consecutive year to the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s (SWT) Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve astonishing wildlife experts, it was announced by the SWT today (25 March). Spotted landing on her usual nesting site, known as an eyrie, at 2.00 pm on 23 March, this female osprey, estimated to now be 25 years of age which is over three times the average lifespan of an osprey, has once again completed a 3,000 mile migration from West Africa to her summer…
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Posted in Nature
Ordnance Survey mapping goes free
Gordon Brown announced in a major speech this morning that he is going to make “a wide range of Ordnance Survey mapping data free for commercial reuse from 1 April”. This follows a consultation carried out by the OS over the last few months on whether mapping data, including their 1:50 000 and 1:25 000 maps, should be made available for free use. The government response to the consultation will be published shortly. All these maps, both 1:25 000 and 1:50 000 for the whole of the UK, have already been made available free on Walkhighlands GPS route planner system…
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Julia Bradbury to be Ramblers President
TV presenter, Julia Bradbury, is due to become the next president of the Ramblers. The nomination was announced today with her presidency expected to be confirmed at the Ramblers general council on April 10th. Julia will follow in the footsteps of previous president’s Janet Street-Porter and Floella Benjamin. Julia has recently been voted No 1 Walking Celebrity of the year by the Ramblers Walk Magazine readers, and has presented a host of outdoor programmes notably the Wainwright Walks series and Countryfile. Julia commented that her objective was to get Britain on its feet. She said: “For too long walking has…
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Bird of Prey Killings Increase
The number of Scottish birds of prey being killed with poison in has increased. Last year 22 poisoning incidents were recorded by Police resulting in 27 dead birds of prey, including 19 buzzards, four red kites and two golden eagles. Scotland’s Environment Minister Rosanna Cunningham said the figures were a “wake-up call” to those who thought such poisonings were on the wane. The highest number of incidents were Tayside, where nine poisonings recorded. Five birds were killed in Lothian and Borders, three in Strathclyde and three in the Highlands. The most common type of poison used to kill the animals…
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Nevis Partnership to Close Down
The Nevis Partnership, a charity set up to manage and help enhance the Ben Nevis and Glen Nevis environment is to shut down following a funding crisis. The charity which formed in 2003 says it has sufficient funds to operate throughout 2011 but will wind down its operation during that time including the loss of the three employees. It is likely that the associated voluntary organisation, The Friends of Nevis, which Walkhighlands is a member, will continue to operate. Since 2003 the Nevis Partnership has secured almost £3million to undertake footpath maintenance work on Ben Nevis; improved access to the…
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Ben Nevis navigation cairns buried in snow
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…
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Mountain Marathons Announced
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…
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Injured climber airlifted after fall
A male climber was airlifted to hospital yesterday (6 March) afternoon after a fall in the Loch Treig, near Roy Bridge in Lochaber. The police reported that the climber was in a party of three. A Sea King helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth attended the scene. The climber and his companions were located and the casualty was evacuated from the hill and airlifted to Fort William. He was then taken by road ambulance to the Belford Hospital, Fort William, where he was treated for a head injury. The police have not given an update on the climber’s condition or identity.
Posted in News