"More than 200 have been recorded this winter, against the previous year's record low of 42. The worst season for fatalities was 2012-13 when eight people died, four of whom were buried in deep snow when an avalanche struck without warning while they descended Glen Coe's Bidean nam Bian."
"The Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) has for several decades published a daily avalanche forecast for six separate Scottish mountain areas—Lochaber, Glen Coe, Creag Meagaidh, Torridon and the northern and southern Cairngorms—beginning in mid-December and continuing until mid-April."
"The SAIS has 19 forecasters on its books, each of them highly experienced expert mountaineers with an additional comprehensive training in the science of avalanches and forecasting. Specialists in their own right, they are guides, instructors, climbers and skiers."
Scotland has experienced a dramatic increase in avalanche activity this winter, recording more than 200 incidents compared to the previous year's record low of 42. While the 2012-13 season saw eight fatalities including four people buried in Glen Coe's Bidean nam Bian, this season has so far avoided confirmed deaths despite several close calls on Ben Nevis and other peaks. Recent avalanche fatalities in the Alps and California underscore the serious dangers mountaineers face. The Scottish Avalanche Information Service, established in 1988, operates with 19 highly trained forecasters who are experienced mountaineers with specialized avalanche science training. These experts provide daily forecasts for six Scottish mountain regions from mid-December through mid-April, helping walkers and climbers make informed decisions about mountain safety.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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