TEN YEARS AGO Thursday May 16, 2013

Climbers warned of a wee problem

Climbers taking a leak on the Lochaber hills could be on a slippery slope to danger.

That’s the warning from a leading mountain safety expert, after a woman careered down a snow slope after stopping for a comfort break.

Heather Morning, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland’s mountain safety advisor, has highlighted the consequences of taking a comfort break in an appropriate place.

The Highland mountains hold snow long until the spring and early summer and snow patches will also be hard and located high up on the shady north side of the mountain. Many traditional mountain routes cross through such terrain and are the usual choice for Munro-baggers.

Hill walkers are advised to treat these old snow patches with caution, particularly if the run-out below is over steep ground.

Heather said route choice is vital and hill walkers should simply consider a snow-free alternative or simply turn around.

She said: “Ladies should be particularly careful regarding their choice of location to take a pee.

“A friend of mine, in a bid to search for somewhere discreet, out of sight of the rest of the party, stepped onto an old patch of snow and headed off down the mountain with her pants around her ankles.

“Fortunately, she only slid a few metres on the grass and the only thing that was hurt was her pride.”

Carey Davies, the British Mountaineering Council hill walking officer, said: “When spring arrives a lot of people feel the pull of the mountains and want to get outdoors again.

“But sometimes people get caught out at this time of year.

“While it may feel like spring has sprung at low levels, on the mountain tops it can be a different story. The mountains in Scotland often hold areas or patches of snow right into summer.

“The higher mountains, like Ben Nevis, are never snow free. And because they’re further north and often higher, they can have a lot more snow than on the uplands of England and Wales.

“If you’re going into the hills remember you may encounter the white stuff in anything from a small patch to large areas so be prepared.”