Monthly Archives: January 2024

Before Health & Safety ( Elf & Safety)

Posted on January 30, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

In the 59 years plus that I have been mountaineering there was limited guides or knowledge was not easy shared. Maps were basic unlike now. Weather forests were extremely basic and there was limited Avalanche information. The few books written … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Avalanche info, Clothing, Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

It’s in the end only “stuff”

Posted on January 28, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

Yesterday I felt pretty upset I sorted out all my climbing gear . Many bits kit were like old friends “ They had got me out of trouble over the years . I doubt if I will climb again sadly. … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Friends, Mountaineering, People, Well being | 13 Comments

Let’s look after those we love

Posted on January 27, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

January can be a dark month for many as the pressures of modern life take there toll. To a sadly a few taking their own life is their only way out. Over the years I was involved in many searches … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Well being | Leave a comment

Patience is a virtue

Posted on January 24, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

Short blog : it was a Wild night again a few slates of the roof. Many will be getting frustrated by the weather. It’s hard to sit and wait but hopefully it will calm down soon. Read the weather reports … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, SARDA, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

Farewell Aunty Elma

Posted on January 23, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

Sadly I was too unwell to go to the funeral yesterday of my great friend Elma Scott. I did speak to her twice a week so it’s a big loss. Despite the weather there was a great turn out so … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Charity, Mountaineering, People, Well being | 5 Comments

Winds – the killer.

Posted on January 22, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

Today we are again in wild weather the winds are an incredible speed. To me and I have seen the effect of extreme winds its nature in the raw powerful and frightening. Many think they have been out in extreme … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Enviroment, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Views Mountaineering, Weather | Leave a comment

Wild weather – The risk to you or as a leader A few thoughts ?

Posted on January 21, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

It was due to being a mountaineer and a Mountain Rescue Team Leader in my early days I was a risk taker. Not in the climbing sense at first but being over 150 days a years sometimes out in the … Continue reading →

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

An Appreciation of Tom Gilchrist awarded the Distinguished Service Award from Mountain Rescue

Posted on January 18, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

It is wonderful to see those who have given so much are rewarded. Distinguished Service Award for Tom Gilchrist 18th January, 2024 SARDA Scotland presented Tom Gilchrist with a Distinguished Service Award this weekend for his outstanding contribution over 50 years … Continue reading →

Posted in Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, SARDA | 2 Comments

Classic ice tools

Posted on January 18, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

Old ice tools- Chounaird Climax and Chounaird Zero These axes were incredible for their size they were designed by the great icon of ice climbing Yvonne Chounaird. They were the state of the art at the time. Bill March the … Continue reading →

Posted in Equipment, Gear, History, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Views Mountaineering, Wildlife | 3 Comments

1973 January The Ben More Viscount crash

Posted on January 17, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

One of my first aircraft searches was for a Missing Viscount aircraft from Glasgow airport that crashed on Ben More (Crainlarich) in the winter 19 -23 January 1973. The aircraft was on a short air test from Glasgow. The two … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Avalanche info, Friends, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 1 Comment