Scotland's avalanche warning service has urged walkers and climbers heading into the Cairngorms this half-term holiday not to be lulled into a false sense of security by the lack of heavy snow.
In the past month alone there have been 43 reported avalanches in the five areas covered by the SportScotland Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) including the Northern and South Cairngorms and Creag Meagaidh.
The recent clear overhead conditions and sub-zero conditions have also added to the potential danger for those venturing into the hills during the February school holidays which start in most places today (Friday).
Mr Mark Diggins, Co-ordinator of the SAIS, said: "There does not appear to be much snow on the hills but in fact certainly in the past fortnight we have had a good number of avalanches take place which have been triggered by people.
"This is largerly because they consider that there is not a great avalanche hazard.
"There probably is not in terms of the distribution of the risk but in certain places the snow pack is unstable.
"This is a timely reminder for people to keep their wits about them and to look at the avalanche reports as to where to go and not to go."
Last Saturday there was a rescue in Glencoe after two climbers were injured when they were carried 200 metres by an avalanche.
The previous Monday (January 30) there had been three avalanches in close proximity in the Northern Cairngorms.
The biggest occurred by the plateau on the Fiacaill Ridge off Coire Cas near the ski area.
A 700 metres wide pack of snow on the crown wall one metre deep was triggered by a group of climbers, and travelled 200 metres.
No-one was injured in the incident at 3.24pm but a couple of other hill-goers needed stitches after being caught up in a smaller avalanche the same day nearby.
Mr Diggins said: "In the Cairngorms there have been some very lucky escapes. People have been hit by avalanches and carried by avalanches, and narrowly escaped being engulfed.
"It is just by good fortune that they have not."
Explaining the added risk, Mr Diggins said: "The glorious but extremely cold weather changes the snow pack.
"It weakens it and it becomes granular and surface hoar develops to create an unstable snow pack."
There have been 95 avalanches recorded so far since the SAIS started for the season in the late Autumn.
The incident in Glencoe occurred at about 12.45pm on Saturday on Stob Coire Nan Lochan. The two injured climbers were assisted by Glencoe and Arrochar mountain rescue teams.
They were airlifted by Royal Navy Rescue Helicopter 177 to Belford Hospital in Fort William.
Avalanche reports should be made to the SAIS online as soon as possible in order that they details can be made available to the wider public.
Mr Diggins said: "This allows hill users to identify what aspect and what altitude those avalanches are taking place when they are planning their day."
• Latest conditions are available at www.sais.gov.uk and hill users can now subscribe to a free text service on avalanche conditions to their mobiles at the website.
