Snow avalanche hazards in the Glen Nevis and Glen Coe areas of Scotland

Until quite recently, snow avalanches in Britain had caused only a few deaths and the occasional destruction of property. Since about 1950, however, the number of people involved in avalanche accidents has risen sharply, particularly in Scotland. The main reason for this has been the growing popularity of mountaineering. This paper examines the situation in the Glen Nevis and Glen Coe areas of the Western Highlands. The types of avalanche occurring at these localities are briefly discussed and relationships between avalanche characteristics and accidents are examined. Mountaineers are the group chiefly responsible for the increase of avalanche deaths and injuries in the Glen Nevis and Glen Coe areas. Responses to the hazard are considered and these are shown to be inadequate. As elsewhere in Scotland, much more research is needed if a further worsening of the problem is to be avoided.