Glenmore Lodge Open Avalanche Training Centre

9th November 2011

Scotland's National Outdoor Training Centre Glenmore Lodge has opened the world's first permanent artifical avalanche tranceiver training facility will offer year-round training in dealing with avalanche scenarios. The 500 square metre facility provides potential rescuers with an artificial, highly realistic and easily accessible facility that enables would-be rescuers to simulate various avalanche transceiver search scenarios at any time of year and whatever the weather conditions. The facility was constructed at a cost of approximately £10,000. It simulates various search scenarios using transceivers, which can be worn by people to help locate them. Scottish Sport Minister Shona Robison officially opened the centre and said: "We can't lose sight of the fact that lives are lost on Scotland's mountains each year...The opening of the avalanche training park - the first of its kind anywhere in the world - is a timely reminder to those heading out into the great outdoors in winter to plan ahead, check the weather and ensure they have the correct safety equipment and knowledge."

Designed by Back Country Access, the training park involves four avalanche transceivers - which simulate victims - buried under a deep layer of woodchip. The company hopes the artificial approach will be copied around the world. Avalanches in Scotland's mountains have claimed eight lives in the past winters, with 15 minutes often the difference between life and death for climbers trapped under several feet of snow.

Source: Herald Scotland