A lot of people in scotland,
seem to be clueless about the dangers of avalanches when travelling in the backcountry.
They seem to think. Just because it’s scotland, that there is no real threat
of getting caught in a slide, when it is still a real possibility. Just like
any ware in the world. Maybe we don’t get as much snow as america, canada
or europe. Just because there isn’t much snow
about, they seem to think avalanches are none existent. A lot of people don’t realise
that the wind plays a big part in creating unstable snow conditions, as dose the
temperature rising rapidly in the matter of hours and many other factors.
The biggest offenders
are the climbers. They cause the most avalanche fatality’s, in scotland. More
than ski tourers, skiers and snowboarders put together.
For example:
There was a big
avalanche that killed 3 climbers on buchaille etive mor on january 24th
2009. The avalanche danger for the 24th was cat 3, with snow showers
above 300 metres with a strong south-westerly
wind. With new accumulations of soft slab formed in sheltered locations, with several
weakly bonded layers within the snowpack. The greatest accumulations of
unstable snow is above 850 metres on north-west through north to east aspects.
Some one needs to
open the eyes of these clueless climbers, ski tourers, skiers and snowboarders who
travel in the scottish BC to the dangers. A lot of people in this country seem
to think carrying avalanche safety gear is necessary.
seem to be clueless about the dangers of avalanches when travelling in the backcountry.
They seem to think. Just because it’s scotland, that there is no real threat
of getting caught in a slide, when it is still a real possibility. Just like
any ware in the world. Maybe we don’t get as much snow as america, canada
or europe. Just because there isn’t much snow
about, they seem to think avalanches are none existent. A lot of people don’t realise
that the wind plays a big part in creating unstable snow conditions, as dose the
temperature rising rapidly in the matter of hours and many other factors.
The biggest offenders
are the climbers. They cause the most avalanche fatality’s, in scotland. More
than ski tourers, skiers and snowboarders put together.
For example:
There was a big
avalanche that killed 3 climbers on buchaille etive mor on january 24th
2009. The avalanche danger for the 24th was cat 3, with snow showers
above 300 metres with a strong south-westerly
wind. With new accumulations of soft slab formed in sheltered locations, with several
weakly bonded layers within the snowpack. The greatest accumulations of
unstable snow is above 850 metres on north-west through north to east aspects.
Some one needs to
open the eyes of these clueless climbers, ski tourers, skiers and snowboarders who
travel in the scottish BC to the dangers. A lot of people in this country seem
to think carrying avalanche safety gear is necessary.
