Monthly Archives: January 2017

Hamish Brown congratulations winning the Mountain Culture Award at the Fort William Mountain Festival.

Hamish Brown well done for winning the Mountain Culture Award for 2017 . I was away in Masirah in the Persian Gulf in 1973/74  and did not realise that Hamish Brown and his dog had completed his great traverse of … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Corbetts and other hills, Mountaineering, Recomended books and Guides, Views Mountaineering | Leave a comment

Stop Windfarms at Loch Ness any views or comments ?

Retweeted Chris Townsend (@townsendoutdoor): STOP Wind Turbines at Loch Ness & Glen Urquhart | Campaigns by You https://t.co/1YUAEdvpY2 https://t.co/b2aYkM06Jo

Posted in Enviroment, Mountaineering | 2 Comments

My mate Andy Watkins – what a character and a fighter and the great work of the The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home

I met some wild characters in my time and when I was down in St Athans in South Wales in 1979 doing my driving course that seamed to take years. (I was not the best driver and still am not) … Continue reading

Posted in Bothies, Charity, Equipment, Friends, Gear, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering | 2 Comments

A wander to a bothy and then a coughy struggle on the Fannichs Munro A’Chailleach (997m Munro 144) Windfarms and the wild places? 

It was a lousy nights sleep developing a cough most of the night and away for 0700 I was up early and tired to head North again for a day with a few pals. Inverness was busy and once over … Continue reading

Posted in Bothies, Enviroment, Equipment, Friends, Munros, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Wildlife | 6 Comments

Winter Skills Talk in the Aviemore Mountain cafe on Wed 8 th Feb and 15 th Feb. Details below !

The Skills chats will take place on Wednesday 8th February, 7pm for meal, 8pm for lecture  Aviemore Mountain Cafe,  A Meal is available, £13, booking essential. Heathers lecture (8th) is headlining that ‘Every Day’s a School day’ even for the most … Continue reading

Posted in Lectures, Local area and events to see, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Views Mountaineering, Weather | Leave a comment

1977 January 8 & 9TH Torridon – Liathach An Fasarinen Pinnacles epic. Look well to each step?

1977  January 8   & 9TH  Torridon – Liathach Pinnacles   a young ATC cadet fell 800 ft, 17-hour epic, carry off with team. In the days before mobile phones and serviceable and effective radios. From the UK Climbing  Dan Bailey … Continue reading

Posted in Enviroment, Equipment, Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather | Leave a comment

A Man’s a Man for a’ That – Burn’s Day.

As a boy from Ayr the same as Robbie Burns he was a big part of the areas folklore and history. He was also some poet, heard world-wide and loved by many. I was brought up in Ayr but my Dad was … Continue reading

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A sad few days in the Cairngorms 21 – 25 January 1984

Originally posted on Old mans thoughts and tales.:
The Cairngorm Plateau on a good day! Looking back 1984 was a pretty good winter, there was plenty of snow and ice about and the hills were  very busy. In these days…

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RAF Kinloss/Leuchars MRT – gone but not forgotten?

I am working on a lecture about Resilience in Edinburgh in February. “LEADERSHIP IN A CRISIS – HOW DO YOU PREPARE YOUR TEAMS FOR THE WORST” and it is amazing how many characters mould you in life and beyond and … Continue reading

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Equipment, Family, Friends, History, Lectures, Lockerbie, Mountain rescue, SAR, Views Mountaineering | Leave a comment

Not what I was expecting but a short walk on Meal an – t Sithe 601 meters “the road of destitution” and a meeting with “Dearg”.

I had planned a day on Beinn Dearg and it was am early start but a few things happend and the day was cut short. Rather than waste a long journey I headed up the road across to the Fannichs. … Continue reading

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