Avalanche warning for some of Scotland’s mountain ranges

CairnGorm Mountain near Aviemore, Glencoe, Nevis Range and The Lecht in Aberdeenshire are all optimistic for skiing and snowboarding this weekend.

Experts, however, warned of a “considerable” risk of avalanche at all but one of Scotland’s monitored mountain areas.

The number of avalanches in the Scottish Highlands fell last season – but there were still five deaths linked to the killer snow slides.

The vital warning service run by the Scottish Avalanche Information Service provides climbers and hill walkers with the avalanche risk on Scotland’s mountains.

The organisation issues daily reports for Lochaber, Glencoe, Creag Meagaidh, the Cairngorms and Torridon.

Only Torridon escaped yesterday’s avalanche warning.

SAIS forecasters recorded fewer avalanches last year than the previous winter, 205 compared with 237. But more than 100 walkers and climbers were involved in avalanche incidents.

Three people died in avalanches during a 10-day period last February.

SAIS said 159 avalanches were natural while 46 incidents were triggered by people.