The number of avalanches in Scotland’s mountains has passed 100 already this winter.
Today the Scottish Avalanche Information Service said there had been 102 with five in the last 48 hours and 82 in the past month.
The news comes as three climbers are thought to have lost their lives since January caused by deadly avalanches.
And missing Ben Nevis climbers Rachel Slater and Tim Newton are also believed to be buried by a snow slide.
Today the SAIS said that the avalanche hazard in all the six areas it monitors – Glencoe, Southern Cairngorms , Northern Cairngorms, Torridon, Lochaber and Creag Meagaidh – was “considerable.”
Last week a climber died after being hit by an avalanche.
Adrian David Bankart – known as Dave – from Matlock in Derbyshire, died on Wednesday on 3710-feet high Creag Meagaidh – 19 miles north east of Ben Nevis – after being hit by “a large avalanche” while he was on the Sash/Pantomime area of the Inner Corrie.
The other climber with him survived but suffered serious injuries.
Ten days before the latest tragedy, a climber was airlifted to hospital after falling more than 1,000ft when he was caught in an avalanche on Creag Meagaidh. He was taken to Belford Hospital while his climbing companion was able to climb down the route in Staghorn Gully and walk, with help from rescuers, from the mountain. He was said by rescuers to have had “a lucky escape.”
Last month two climbers – including a rescue team member – died climbing in Glen Coe.
Joe Smith, 23, who lived in Kinlochleven in Lochaber, perished with experienced mountain skills instructor Simon Davidson, 34, who lived in Fort William.
The pair probably plunged “several hundred feet” on January 16.
Mr Smith, who was originally from Lancashire, was a member of the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team that found their bodies.
It is believed the men – who were friends – may have got caught up in an avalanche.
The number of avalanches recorded in Scotland’s mountains fell last winter.
The SAIS recorded 237 avalanches compared to 351 the previous year.
However 2013/2014 was noted as one of the snowiest winters in Scotland’s mountains in almost 70 years.
Though fewer in number during last winter, one of the biggest avalanches in years in the Scottish Highlands was recorded in March.