Two Edinburgh skiers survive 2,000 ft fall in Glencoe avalanche

At around 10.00am yesterday morning (27th February) two young male skiers from Edinburgh, one 26 and one 23, were swept off the summit of Meall a’ Bhuiridh in Glencoe.

Close to the edge of a ski-run, the snow gave way – one of the ‘slab’ avalanches we’re getting to know all about (see below) – and the pair were hurled 2,ooo ft down. They were found afterwards in Cam Gleann. Both were taken to hospital in FortWilliam, one with an injury to the leg for which he was treated.

The risk of avalanches in the Highlands mountains remain high and the easily triggered slab avalanches are very much a feature of the prevailing conditions.

They happen when a body of snow gets progressively compacted in freezing conditions and is then covered by a fresh snowfall. This new snow on the slope is simply sitting on top of a slippery surface upon which it has no purchase. If a walker or a skier just walks on this snow, it is the only impetus it needs to lose its grip.

With the two walkers who died on Buchaille Etive Mor a few days ago on 24th February, the slab avalanche was modest enough in volume – but enough to carry  these two men to their deaths 1,500 ft below.

The Edinburgh skiers have been fortunate, especially since the avalanche that overcame them was described by the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team as ‘a big, big one’.

Update: It has emerged that the two young en brought this avalanche upon themselves and could have visited it upon others. They were skiing off-piste – which is highly irresponsible when the avalanche risk is high. They were close to the summit – and they skied right to the edge of the ridge – which moved the snow in the manner described above.

The avalanche they caused was 200 metres wide, with the snow dislodged by the men giving way across the whole slope.

They were apparently experienced skiers and, as they had started the avalanche, they began on top of it and managed to use their skies to stay there as the body of snow plunged down the mountain.

They kept their wits about them and were lucky to live but the hard fact is that they could have killed others as well as themselves. They should have known much better than this.

Given the high risk of avalanche, people considering going to the high mountains to walk or ski off-piste are advised to think again.