Monthly Archives: September 2020

Professor Norman Collie and John Mackenzie honoured with bronze sculpture

Posted on September 28, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

It was great to see that the incredible statue to these two giants of Mountaineering is now completed and is on place at Sligachan with great views onto the Skye Ridge. It has been 17 years in the making. What … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Islands, Mountaineering, People, Rock Climbing, SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Well being | 2 Comments

Last day in Harris “The Golden Road”

Posted on September 26, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

We had an easy start after our hill day it was windy and pretty cold at times. We had lunch at Sam’s Seafood Shack at Rodal then we headed along the Golden road. We had a superb lunch of fresh … Continue reading →

Posted in Bothies, Cycling, Enviroment, Islands, People, Views Political?, Weather, Well being | 1 Comment

Harris incredible weather a walk up Clisham and a visit to the Colby camp near the summit.

Posted on September 25, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

Yesterday we had a look at the weather forecast and decided to climb Clisham . It had been over 40 years since Kalie had climbed it with her late husband Nigel. She had wanted to climb it today but the … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Corbetts, Corbetts and other hills, Enviroment, Friends, Islands, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Other hills Grahams & Donalds, SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Visit to the Shackleton crash site 30 years after the tragedy.

Posted on September 24, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

Yesterday I visited the crash site at Maodal 30 years after the accident. It was a lovely day the sun was out and it’s only about an hours walk up from the wee car park below the hill. It was … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Islands, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, PTSD, Weather, Well being | 2 Comments

29 April 1990 The Shackelton aircraft crash on the Isle of Harris.

Posted on September 23, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

The Shackelton Crash Harris AEW MK2 WR965. 30thApril 1990 Grid reference NF 996914 I am in Harris just now having an incredible trip. I have been so lucky to walk and climb here over the years. It like all Islands … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Enviroment, Local area and events to see, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, PTSD, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

The Isle of Harris a trip down memory lane ?

Posted on September 22, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

I am so lucky just now I am in Harris the weather yesterday was perfect. We left the day before and had a superb night in Dunvegan then on to the Ferry at Uig next day. The drive from home … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Bothies, Enviroment, Friends, Islands, Mountaineering, People, Plants, Rock Climbing, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

1987 – Edinburgh Castle in “days of yore” training with the Fire Service with Troll.

Posted on September 21, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

This photo is of a training day with the fire service and with Troll who made climbing harnesses and other safety equipment. We had been asked by I think Dave Alcock the “Troll guru”of his era to show the Edinburgh … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering | Leave a comment

Bothies memories – Back Hill of Bush Galloway.

Posted on September 18, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

I received this through my blog yesterday about a visit to a bothy in Galloway Backhill of Bush bothy with my brother in 1971 – 49 years ago: “I once met a chap by the name of Heavy in backhill … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Bothies, Enviroment, Friends, Mountaineering, People, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

Books – Hamish MacInnes’ Call – out.

Posted on September 17, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

This is the classic tale of the early days of mountain rescue mainly in Glencoe, Scotland. Hamish is a world-class mountaineer and yet he spent so much time helping his fellow man and women in distress on these wild hills. … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Well being | 3 Comments

The Ben Lui Jaguar crash 1979 and the Shackleton on Harris 1990 lessons learned.

Posted on September 15, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

The RAF Mountain Rescue Team and the other RAF teams are there to recover aircrew from crashed aircraft and also work with the Air Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) after an incident at times this can be on steep and difficult … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Equipment, Friends, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, PTSD | 4 Comments