Winter mountaineers and climbers have had one of the best seasons in decades

Scotland’s avalanche forecasting service has been scaled back as the winter season draws towards a close.

Although small amounts of fresh snow have been forecast, a general thaw has taken place in most areas over the last couple of weeks, and temperatures on many tops are due to rise to as high as 5C over the next few days, according to the Mountain Weather Information Service.

The daily forecasts run by the sportscotland Avalanche Information Service ended last weekend, though a weekend forecast will be provided for Lochaber and the northern Cairngorms for the final time this coming weekend, as climbers and winter mountaineers squeeze the last routes out of what has been an exceptional winter.

Typical reports from the SAIS observers last weekend said there was patchy snow cover above 800m and ice routes were rapidly thawing. The large cornices which have built up over the winter are now sagging and giving way in many places.

North facing routes such as those on Ben Nevis’s main faces were the best bet for any ice climbing, but some of these were becoming marginal.

The general avalanche risk across Scotland was low last weekend, though pockets of moderate risk still prevail. Wet avalanche evidence was to be seen in many areas.

Though the high levels of snowfall provided fine mountaineering conditions for many, there were fatalities due to avalanches, including the death of mountain instructor Chris Walker and his client Robert Pritchard when they were swept over a drop by an avalanche above Coire na Tulaich on Buachaille Etive Mòr in February.

Stephen Young perished in an avalanche on Creag Meagaidh the same month, and two climbers, Rupert Rosedale and William Wilkinson died on Ben Nevis’s north face in December, the same day Chris Astill died from injuries following an avalanche incident on Liathach.

Four men, two of whom sustained serious injuries, were caught in an avalanche on Pinnacle Ridge on St Sunday Crag in the Lake District, and even top climber Alan Hinkes almost came a cropper when he triggered a snow slide on a Great End gully.

Although the toll of death and injury may seem high, it is worth noting that the number of climbers, walkers and mountaineers is growing. Mountain rescuers estimate the proportion of injuries among mountain-goers is actually falling.