Bidean nam Bian
Bidean nam Bian (the 3 sisters): a munro with many routes of varying complexity. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA
Snow has been falling heavily across the vast majority of the UK for the last few days so avalanche risks have been higher than normal. Just yesterday a group of 6 (3 men 3 women) climbing Bidean nam Bian were hit by an avalanche that killed 4 of them and left the 5th with a serious head injury. It is believed that the group were descending from a peak on the south side of the valley (near Church Door Buttress) when the snow covered slope they were climbing on (possibly a slope of Stob Coire nan Lochan) broke away and sent 5 of them hurtling down the mountain in ice and snow. The alarm was initially raised by two members who were not part of the party who found a body. However, the male survivor later alerted the police that there were still more people missing. A major search operation by Glencoe Mountain Rescue to find the bodies was soon launched in response to this, which later managed to find all of the bodies.

 
Now I know that Everest is not in the UK: in fact its on the other side of the globe but when I saw this gigapixel image of it I thought that it couldn't be missed. It was taken by the non-profit organisation GlacierWorks in Spring 2012. It is in such a high quality that you can zoom in from seeing the whole mountain and surrounding mountains right into base camp and see people without the image being pixelated take a look by clicking HERE (you won't regret it: and even the slowest computer should be able to run it)!
 
Buachaille Etive More
Buachaille Etive Mor: a great Scottish peak with an amazingly hard to pronounce Scottish name stands guard over one of Scotland's most dramatic glens: Glen Coe.

And no they are not talking about the weather unfortunately.

Recently CNN voted Scotland as its hottest destination for 2013 after a year which saw the world's eyes fixed on England. Also 2012 was actually a pretty warm year for the north of Scotland whilst those visiting below the border got drenched. 


Whether it be because of Skyfall's scenes of Bond racing through the highlands, the newly opened Gore Tex Scottish National Trail (Gore Tex being an American company), the golf, the many outdoors events, the Commonwealth games in Glasgow in 2014 or something else. One thing is for sure: Scotland and possibly the rest of the UK are likely to see more of our friends from across the Atlantic and we will welcome them with open arms! 

Check back soon or follow us @mountainhikesuk for our list of some Scottish outdoor treats that everyone deserves to see or do before its too late in life.

Read the full article by CNN at http://edition.cnn.com/2013/01/01/travel/top-destinations-2013
 
Back in 2011 the Gleann Dubh-lighe bothy in Lochaber was damaged by fire and although no one died, the bothy was very badly damaged and only one wall was left standing. The fire was said to have been caused by a faulty gas screw on a gas canister which allowed gas, which was later ignited by a candle, to escape.

This week we learnt that the bothy is to be rebuilt by volunteers in April at a predicted price of £12,000 by the Mountain Bothies Association. Among the works to be carried out are the re-roofing, window and door insulation and sub-division into rooms.

With a but of luck this part of the Scottish countryside should provide a safe haven for walkers for many years to come.
 
Find and follow us @MountainHikesUK or by clicking the twitter icon at the top of our site!
 
The Ennerdale valley (in the Lake District) is famed as being a remote and beautiful place but it and two other locations are being considered as a place that nuclear waste could be dumped. Find out what you can do online, in a matter of minutes to preserve this amazing place for future generations...

 
For the past week heavy rain and high winds have been hitting the UK and it looks like its set to continue. Many weather warnings for heavy rain and flooding have been issued. Lots of homes have been flooded and there have already been fatalities.

If you are planning to go out onto the hills this week here are some tips to ensure you do not become another number on the list of fatalities...

Deal with Bogs

The ground was already saturated before most of the heavy rain started to fall so the heavy rain we have been receiving will make bogs twice as boggy this makes gaiters (love them or not) a must. A good way to see if ground is boggy before walking straight into it is to look for cotton grasses and other bog loving plants. If they are there then the chances are the ground will be boggy.

If you do have to cross bogs keep moving: don't do what I end up doing which is stopping to take a picture then realising you are knee deep in mud. Trekking poles will also help you to keep your balance so you don't fall face first into sludge.
Read on for more

 
Garry Goyle
A man is missing in North Wales: his name is Gerry Coyle, he is 65 years of age and is wearing a green fleece, green trousers and a wide brimmed hat with a camoflage pattern. It is also thought that he was carrying photography equipment at the time but this is probably in a bag or rucksack. He has been missing since Thursday 25th (25/10/12) If you think you can help the police in their search for Gerry please call North Wales Police on 101 or crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 

Update:
Unfortunately Gerry has yet to be found and concerns are growing as no new evidence of any sort has been found.


 
The annual Kendal Mountain Festival is always a place to find contrasts from the outdoor world. The biggest event of its type worldwide, it’s the main social event for outdoor enthusiasts in the UK. 

Known for its strong base in climbing and mountaineering, it also manages to surprise with the unexpected; and this year is no different. This November ‘Kendal’ draws in many amazing personalities, from BBC TV adventurer Paul Rose to Olympic triathlon medalists Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee.
Highlights this year include the KEEN Wild Water Session, an exclusive mix of the best paddlesport action, from wild river running to remote sea kayak expeditions, this year featuring top new films plus KEEN athlete Adrian Durrant. From Lucan, Co Dublin, Adrian is one of Ireland’s top paddlers. Oh, and there’s free beer on offer as well…

 
If you have visited this site before then you will have probably realised that we have a new theme again. However, we want to know what you think... do you prefer this one or the old one? (The old one is the one with the black wood in the background if you can't remember it.) Please take a few seconds to participate in the poll which can be found in the sidebar...