Press Release 12th November 1999

Last winter an exciting new web site went online at www.winternet-scotland.co.uk

This site gives web surfers the opportunity to see and read about the Scottish mountain conditions. Weather report links for skiing and climbing and the avalanche reports are included too.

This unique, world leading service is designed to give walkers, climbers and ski-tourers a realistic idea of winter conditions using written reports and photographic images. Photographs will appear regularly for the Cairngorms and links to other web cameras throughout Scotland will be included. Independent volunteers provide reports on an ad hoc basis. WinterNet’s Home Page has a bulletin board for visitors to add their own reports and photos and there is a general message board for selling gear or finding a climbing partner.

When it was first set up, the success of the website was its own undoing. So many winter enthusiasts visited the site that it caused the server to crash. The website has now been relocated to a reliable commercial server!

Mountaineering Instructor and Webmaster Ron Walker of Talisman Activities pioneered the idea giving a lot of his time, energy and money to develop it. Over the summer Ron has set up a photographic archive page and investigated the feasibility of adding video clips to the constantly growing album of photos. Some trial video clips are already available.

With growing interest coming from other mountain goers who want to add their own photos and reports to WinterNet, Ron is offering to run free training weekends on the computer and mountaineering skills required. Volunteers can also be provided with their own WinterNet web page!

Photo images are uploaded prior to weekends and public holidays and the intention is to expand the service further particularly if suitable financial sponsorship can be found. Volunteers with digital cameras and Internet connections are also required so that as broad range of photos as possible can be included. Ron would like to hear via e-mail from individuals or companies who would like to support or assist with the venture financially, by providing equipment or computer skills.

Advertising space or web links may be available for suitable commercial sponsors.

The idea for the service arose two winters ago in 1998 when many hill-goers had become frustrated by the season's erratic weather conditions and misleadingly optimistic ski reports. They didn’t believe reports of good winter conditions in April! This was when Cairngorm saw some of the widest and deepest snow cover it has had for some time and all this just as the avalanche reports ended for the season! This happened again in 1999.

What will winter 2000 bring? Use WinterNet Scotland to find out! 

Ron Walker

www.talisman-activities.co.uk

See about WinterNet for further info and statistics here