#ThinkWinter – Thank you

#ThinkWinter – Thank you

As the days are drawing out and things are feeling decidedly more spring-like, Scottish Mountain Rescue would like to thank all of the organisations who worked together to make this year’s #thinkwinter campaign such as success. Thank you Mountaineering Scotland, Mountain Training, Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland, Snowsports Scotland and Glenmore Lodge.

We would also like to thank all of you who managed to get out and about over the winter months for staying safe and ensuring that our team members stayed safe too.

Please be aware that the conditions on the tops of some of our mountains is still very wintery, so if you are heading out, please remember the following:

• Plan your route and check the mountain weather  forecasts before you go
• Take appropriate winter clothing, footwear and equipment including torch, map and compass and plenty of food and drink
• Build up your confidence and practice your navigation and winter skills on simpler routes before taking on more complex and longer days
• Be prepared to alter your plans or turn back if the weather or conditions change
• Let someone know where you are going, what time you will be back and what to do if you do not return as expected
• If you are lost or injured and can’t get off the hill call 999, ask for Police then ask for Mountain Rescue.

The 2020/2021 Avalanche Weather Forecast reports have now ended, SAIS have said, “Snowpack stability will generally be good in all areas with summit snow on occasion. Any remaining snow slopes and patches will continue to present a slipping and falling hazard as any cold temperatures will maintain firm and icy conditions. We would recommend that when venturing into the hills and mountains, weather forecasts should be referred to prior to excursions, and visual observations of conditions should be carried out during any trip. This information is important when making good plans and allowing for flexible decision making. Snow cover persists in all mountain areas mostly above 900m, sometimes extensive at summit levels, notably in the Northern Cairngorms and Ben Nevis areas. Surface instabilities and sloughing is likely on steep sun affected slopes. In places, cornice remnants may continue to be an unpredictable hazard with collapse threatening slopes below in the warm spring conditions. We would like to thank you for your support over the winter and wish you an enjoyable summer. With thanks from the SAIS forecaster team.”

Finally, we would like to thank our suppliers, supporters and contacts who spread our #thinkwinter posts to ensure that we reached as many people as possible with the key messages.