Mountains hit by first avalanches

THE first avalanches of the winter have been recorded on Scotland’s mountains.

Windy and mild weather had meant that there was hardly any snow for avalanche recorders to monitor.

But over Christmas there has been a return to more usual wintry conditions and six avalanches have been recorded – five within 48 hours.

All but two of Scotland’s monitored mountain areas were showing “considerable” risk of avalanche yesterday.

However Scotland’s five ski resorts are still shut due to a lack of snow and the strong winds.

This winter’s avalanche warning service for the main areas enjoyed by hillwalkers and climbers started on December 16.

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