Mountain Equipmenthas announced that it will be sponsoring the Sport Scotland AvalancheInformation Service (SAIS) for at least another threeyears and will be the exclusive clothing sponsor of the service.The decision was reached before the tragic

and use. Over the wintermonths, it's a no-brainer to check the forecast regularly and takeprevailing conditions into account when planning your day.The SAIS is available on the web at www.sais.gov.uk

The excellent SportScotlandAvalanche Information Service - SAIS - avalanche forecastsare now available in textform to mobile phone users as well as on the web and in selectedlocations in the hills.The latest reports for the five main Scottish winter

heading ontothe Scottish hills this winter and well worth checking. At the momenthowever, there's relatively little snow anywhere and the latestforecast is 'low' in the west and 'moderate' in the Gorms. Roll onwinter.To see the SAIS page clickhere.

at www.glencoemountain.co.uk.For the latest avalanche reports for five main Scottish mountain areas see www.sais.gov.uk – SAIS also runs Avalanche Hazard Awareness Days in conjunction with Glenmore Lodge, where you can learn the basics of assessing

.Avalanches are relatively common in Scotland and the SAIS is asignificant aid to mountain safety. It's also a handy way to keeptrack of which winter crags are in condition. You can find thelatestforecast at www.sais.gov.uk.Regular OM users will know that we carry a summary

cuts and bruises.The Scottish Avalanche Information Service – www.sais.gov.uk – carries detailed forecasts for five main Scottish climbing areas along with mapped avalanche reports. Currently avalanche hazard is mostly high thanks to drifting fresh snow

are likely to be, this is the site to visit. They're also behind the excellent Smidge repellent.Scottish Avalanche Information ServiceAvalanches are more common that you might think on Scottish hills and the SAIS provides excellent daily forecasts

Tragic news from the weekend when a party of six mountaineers on Bidean Nam Bian in Glencoe were caught in an avalanche, which left four of them dead and one seriously injured in hospital.The incident's been thoroughly covered in the national media - see this report from the Guar...

Information Service: Daily avalanche forecasts over the winter monthsthough obviously not live over the summer. The forecasts now alsoinclude blogs from the SAIS observers complete with recent photos. Forecast Back