We were sad to hear of the news that Blyth Wright had passed away. Cicerone’s Avalanche and Snow guidebooks were translated by Blyth who had climbed and skied extensively in the UK, the Alps and North America for over 40 years.

Since 1989 he acted as Co-ordinator of what is now the sportscotland Avalanche Information Service, and had represented Scotland and the UK at many international meetings of snow and avalanche experts.

The following words by Dave Whalley appeared in the latest issue of Mountain Rescue magazine – we are grateful to them for letting us reproduce it here.

‘Blyth Wright was a great friend of the RAF MRT and helped us on many occasions especially on giving us updates and advice on the Avalanche conditions all over Scotland especially in call outs. He built up the Scottish Avalanche Service into what it is today.
He fought against many of the mountaineering fraternity who were against it. He achieved government funding by sheer constant hassle and fighting his corner and made the mountains a little safer by his efforts in educating mountaineers and skiers.
Many will not know that he was part of the famous Corriemulzie climbing club and a great friend of Phillip Tranter of the famous ‘Tranter Rounds’. Blyth was with him when he completed the North and South Clunnies (Kintail) in day on the way back from an attempt on the Skye Ridge in winter.
He was always interested in the RAF mountain rescue history, The Big Walks and the troops repeating these incredible hill days.
A great mountaineer and Scottish character, he was buried on a lovely day in the Banchor cemetery, surrounded by his friends. Some of the greats from the past and present of Scottish mountaineering were there to pay respects.
RAF MRS was represented by FS Daz Steatham of RAF Kinloss, and Heavy Whalley.’