Avalanche Deaths As Winter Arrives

As winter conditions bit over the Christmas / New Year period, three mountaineers died in Scottish avalanche incidents and there were a string of other condition-related accidents in the hills.

The Scottish deaths happened in two unrelated incidents. In the first, two experienced climbers were killed after being avalanched on the North Face of Ben Nevis last Wednesday, 30 December.

The pair were reportedly climbing Number 3 Gully along with a third man who survived and were swept down the mountain when the gully avalanched. Lochaber MRT leader John Stevenson is quoted as saying that the avalanche was probably caused by fresh deposits forming windslab on top of old snow.

Hours later another man was found with arm injuries after being avalanched on Liathach  in the Torridon area. He was taken to hospital but died later.

There were two other avalanches in the Glencoe area, in one on  Beinn Dothaidh, two men were caught up in the snowslide but escaped, one reportedly suffering a  head injury. In the other, on Beinn Udlaidh, Bridge of Orchy, another climber was caught up in an avalanche and helicoptered out with suspected broken leg.

There's a good summary of the incidents at the Press and Journal web site: www.pressandjournal.co.uk

In other recent incidents, a climber with a broken leg has been rescued from Cwm Idwal in Snowdonia after a reported 40-metre fall - news.bbc.co.uk. A couple from Greater Manchester had to be rescued after attempting to slide off Tryfan  because it was "easier than walking" - news.bbc.co.uk

A 55-year-old man was air lifted off Snowdon on New Year's Eve after camping at 2,000 feet for two days as part of training for an expedition to Norway and becoming 'cold and hungry' - www.dailypost.co.uk

Serious winter conditions always seem to bring a spate of mountain accidents in their wake, but checking weather reports carefully and using the right clothing and equipment will help as will learning winter skills. See links below.