Testing the snowpack in the Highlands

Scotland’s avalanche service winds up this week, with the final forecast for Lochaber and the northern Cairngorms being published this coming weekend.

The sportscotland Avalanche Information Service starts in December and runs through the winter months, giving up-to-date information on the risk of incidents in five areas of the Highlands.

Latest reports indicate a slow thaw of the remaining snowpack in Lochaber and the Cairngorms, with avalanche risk low (category 1).

The reports for Creag Meagaidh, Glencoe and the southern Cairngorms ended earlier this week.

The newly introduced mobile-phone text messaging service for all areas also ended last weekend.

A one-day seminar on the avalanche service will be run this Sunday, 19 April, by the Snow and Avalanche Foundation for Scotland. The event, which will take the form of talks, workshops and discussions, will take place at the National Outdoor Training Centre at Glenmore Lodge.

Organisers say the seminar will give avalanche-service users the opportunity to give feedback on the provision, discuss recent innovations and discuss future plans for the sportscotland-funded service, used by climbers, mountaineers and hillwalkers throughout the winter months.

Cost of the seminar is £15. Details are on the SAIS website.