Monthly Archives: December 2021

Happy New Year all. What’s your best New Year climb or walk?

Posted on December 31, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

It’s that time again and I am lucky enough to be on the West coast. The weather has not been great with a big thaw on plus some heavy rain. Yet it’s a great place to be. The hills have … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Corbetts, Friends, Health, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 7 Comments

1953 Avalanche Ben Nevis – Castle Gullies very early use of probes.

Posted on December 29, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

This is one the earliest photos from the RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue archives. The homemade probes were made out of gas piping by the RAF Kinloss workshops in 1953. 2-7/04/53 Ben Nevis South Castle Gully Six-day search for two avalanched … Continue reading →

Posted in Avalanche info, Equipment, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing. | Leave a comment

The Black Crag – Creag Dubh -A short winter climb “Qui Qui”some steep rock and a grand wee hill.

Posted on December 28, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Creag Dubh (A’ Chreag Dhubh — the black crag), 2350 feet, is a picturesque hill cut off from the rest of the Monadhliath (Am Monadh Liath — the grey mountain range) by Glen Banchor. It is prominent from Newtonmore and … Continue reading →

Posted in Mountaineering | 2 Comments

2021 Memories.

Posted on December 26, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

I thought I would share a few photos of this year. It’s been a crazy time the world is a strange place but yet we still have so many lovely places many on our doorstep to see. It’s easy to … Continue reading →

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

A night traverse of the Aonach Eagach.

Posted on December 26, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Walk Highlands describes the ridge as “Famed as the narrowest ridge on the British mainland (though Liathach and An Teallach must run it close), the Aonach Eagach gives a thrilling and spectacular traverse for keen and experienced scramblers, linking the … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Enviroment, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Recomended books and Guides, Rock Climbing, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 2 Comments

Posted on December 26, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

heavywhalley.wordpress.com/2021/06/08/a-bothy-tale-early-winter-dec-1978-the-mamores-and-an-encounter-at-meannanach-bothy/amp/ Luibelt bothy before the BBC Podcast!

Posted in Articles, Bothies, Mountaineering | Leave a comment

Happy Christmas to all.

Posted on December 25, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Thanks to all for reading the Blog have a great Christmas and spare a thought for all those working today. The Landing lights were on for Santa ready to arrive as two young girls get more excited. Last nights quote … Continue reading →

Posted in Mountaineering | 4 Comments

Short days in the shortest of days – The odd climb before the crowds return after Christmas.

Posted on December 22, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Short days on the shortest day! Coire Sputan Dearg Mac Dui – Grey mans crag. The Ben, Lochnagar and other great places. The shortest day is now behind us and I was reminded of trying to get in early winter … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Enviroment, Equipment, Friends, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

Lockerbie another year on and the pain is still there.

Posted on December 21, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Today is the Anniversary of the Lockerbie Disaster in 1988. I was the Team Leader of the RAF Leuchars Mountain Rescue Team. My first stint as TeamLeader and I had a great young team. We were involved in so many … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Cycle to Syracuse Training, Lockerbie, Media, Mountaineering, People, PTSD, Well being | 6 Comments

A sad event “Tragedy on Ben Nevis – 19 th December 1954 .”

Posted on December 20, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

“On the 19 Dec 1954 exactly 67 years ago Eleven Royal Naval personnel from Royal Naval Air Station Fulmar (Lossiemouth) left to climb Ben Nevis via Coire Leis. They had stayed overnight and left the CIC hut where they were … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Enviroment, Equipment, Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Well being | 2 Comments