F ind plenty of snow
A Scottish summer – where you can still
IT is a scene one might expect to find on Scotland’s hills in winter – not at the height of summer.
But this picture of a spectacular snow tunnel – in parts towering higher than a double decker bus – was taken only a few days ago.
Huge patches of snow still remain on many peaks, with this tunnel just off the busy tourist trail at Ciste Mhearad in the Cairngorms.
Now mountaineering chiefs have warned climbers and hillwalkers about difficult conditions following a spate of incidents.
David Gibson, chief officer at the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, said that ‘exceptional amounts of snow’ and an extremely wet summer had resulted in a number of deaths and serious injuries.
He said: ‘Many accidents resulting in serious injuries are caused by a simple trip or slip, and walking poles can help stability.
‘In the higher mountains there is an exceptional amount of late snow this year, which can change from soft and sugary to rock hard and icy as temperature and weather change.’
He added: ‘Slopes with wet grass or snow constitute a hazard – treat such slippery terrain with caution and avoid it where possible, especially on steeper slopes or near cliff edges.’
Low temperatures have ensured that huge drifts – now compacted and turned to ice – have failed to melt properly from last winter, creating an eerie world of tunnels and bridges.
I ain Cameron, a snow patch researcher based in Stirling, said: ‘The amount of snow this year has been very unusual.’