Conditions perfect as skiers take to Scottish slopes

Highland Correspondent

Saturday 9 February 2013

SKIERS and snowboarders have taken to the piste to enjoy perfect conditions for the sport in the Highlands, where resorts are expecting a bumper weekend.

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David Ross Highland Correspondent

The recent snowfall has left all five of Scotland's ski resorts in good shape over the coming days, including at Glenshee ski centre, pictured.

With some Scottish schools having a break, all resorts are hoping for a busy weekend with good conditions.

However, with the recent deaths of four climbers on Glencoe – and the death of a 22-year-old man on Ben Nevis – still fresh in the mind, avalanche warnings have been posted as waves of climbers are expected to make their way to the hills.According to the sportscotland Avalanche Information Service, the risk until 6pm today above 800 metres (2624ft) in Glencoe will be considerable, at hazard level five. It means natural avalanches are possible, but human-triggered avalanches are likely."Areas of poorly bonded windslab will persist mainly on north-east through east to south aspects above 800 metres. During the afternoon, fresh windslab will be deposited on these aspects. Cornices will be unstable."Meanwhile, in Lochaber, which includes Ben Nevis, there are pockets of considerable risk over 800m."Instabilities will develop in the existing areas of windslab as the thaw becomes established. Greatest accumulations of unstable snow will exist on steep north-east through east to south aspects above 850m. The avalanche hazard will be considerable. Cornices will be prone to collapse."The risk is similar in the northern Cairngorms but less, only moderate and low in the southern Cairngorms.Meanwhile, three weeks after an avalanche killed four climbers in Glencoe, a friend who was with them that day remains in hospital. Dr Rachel Majumdar, originally from Merseyside, Chris Bell, from Blackburn, Lancashire, Una Finnegan from County Londonderry and Tom Chesters, from Sidmouth in Devon, all died But a 24-year-old woman from the Durham area remains in the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow, where her condition was described as "serious". A sixth climber, a man, survived by getting out of the way of the avalanche, but has not been named.

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Conditions perfect as skiers take to Scottish slopes

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