Scottish Rescues Update

A quick update on the weekend in Scotland where a total of four climbers were rescued after getting into difficulties in bad condions in two separate incidents.

According to the BBC news site, one pair were rescued and helicoptered to hospital with leg injuries after being avalanched on Buchaille Etive Mor in Glencoe. The approach slopes to the mountain are notoriously avalanche prone and there have been fatalities there in the past.

The second incident took place on Lochnagar when two climbers reportedly recce-ing a grade III winter route on the mountain apparently accidentally strayed onto a grade V climb, were unable to reverse the route and were benighted on a ledge. The two were winched to safety by Braemar Mountain Rescue Team.

A Grampian Police spokesman is quoted as saying: 'They were over-ambitious and perhaps didn't think their day through properly.

See this BBC news item for more details.

The incidents underline the seriousness of Scottish winter mountains and the current bad avalanche conditions. You can check the latest forecast from the Scottish Avalanche Information Service on the web at www.sais.gov.uk/latest_forecast

At the moment - Wednesday morning - the forecast everywhere is either 'high' or 'considerable' so think about route selection if you are going out. For general snow forecast information, see this site.