Four members of the Mountain Aid committee attended this Scottish Parliamentary Reception at Holyrood on 28th January. Organised by Scottish Mountain Rescue and Mountaineering Scotland the event was hosted by Liz Smith MSP. After a number of speeches including one by Damon Powell the Chair of Scottish MR about a rather dramatic rescue on Ben Cruachan, we had time for networking. We renewed old contacts and made new ones and hopefully spread the word about what we, Mountain Aid, are able to contribute to mountain safety.
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Following a period of exceptionally mild and wet weather the snow cover in the Cairngorms has all but disappeared. Recent weather has seen no build up of snow cover and what remains are pockets. Weather forecasts do not suggest any extension to cover and conditions will continue to deteriorate the remaining snow.
 
The likelihood of there being any suitable conditions on the ground is highly unlikely even if snows return during the week. Any cover will be thin and insubstantial and as Mountain Aid is a charity we are not keen to pay out fees with the possibility that the main purpose of the course can’t be achieved.

Therefore we have made the decision to postpone next weeks winter skills course 18th / 19th January).