Heather Morning

A mountain expert with 20 years’ experience in the Scottish hills is offering advice to help improve walkers’ and mountaineers’ safety on the uplands.

Heather Morning, who has also been a mountain rescue team member for 12 years, will deliver a series of talks on winter safety.

Ms Morning, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland’s mountain safety adviser, is looking to improve people’s awareness and knowledge of topics such as navigation, equipment, route choice, avalanches and weather conditions.

The MCofS said the six lectures will be illustrated by photographs and will feature anecdotes, with a focus on how to make the most of the mountains, offering practical advice on how best to prepare for a winter expedition and how to adapt skills and techniques.

The main series of lectures is being delivered in partnership with outdoor shops Tiso and Cotswold, who will be providing venues for the talks, and funds will be raised for the Mountain Safety Trust.

The lectures will take place during November and December and anyone interested is urged to book as demand is expected to be high.

The MCofS said: “The talks at Tiso stores will be free to attend, although a donation bucket will be passed around for the Mountain Safety Trust.

“At Cotswold there will be a nominal £2 charge for tickets, which will go to the trust.”

The lectures will be held in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Aberdeen and Perth.

There will be a further two talks in February, both at the Mountain Café in Aviemore and sponsored by the Munro Society.

Heather Morning will deliver the first lecture on 12 February, while the second, on 19 February, will be delivered by David ‘Heavy’ Whalley, a mountain rescue legend, who put in 35 years with RAF Mountain Rescue and is still active in sharing his knowledge and expertise.

More details are on the Mountaineering Council of Scotland website.