Category Archives: Alaska

Fort William Mountain Festival Thursday 15 Feb 2024

Posted on February 13, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

The winners for the 2024 Scottish Awards for Excellence in Mountain Culture will soon be selected and we will be announcing them early next year. The Awards will be presented at the Launch Night on the 15th February 2024. Since … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Articles, Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

Cold Bivouac’s – what’s yours ?

Posted on January 6, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

Most of the bivouacs in my early days in these days the bivouac gear was basic. Orange polythene bags were the standard. This was the early 80’s a few on call-outs. My worst one was on Skye in 1982 on … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Alaska, Books, Enviroment, Expeditions - Alaska - Himalayas etc, Gear, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Views Mountaineering | 4 Comments

Denali ascent – “a closely run summit” by Jimmy Clethero RIP

Posted on June 1, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

Many expeditions have untold tales especially in the military this is one is told in my pals words about the late Jimmy Clethero. In these days there were lots of things that remain “untold” I hope you appreciate “ Stampys” … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Articles, Friends, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

Jimmy Clethero RIP

Posted on May 31, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

Sadly I missed my friends Jimmy Clethero’s funeral. I have been told it was a great tribute to the man that so many attended. Jimmy was a great mountaineer very cool in any emergency and never sought the limelight. He … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Friends, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, Well being | 2 Comments

The Alpinist

Posted on January 25, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

Marc-André Leclerc climbs solo unroped, far from the limelight. The free-spirited 25 year old makes made some of the boldest solo ascents in history. Yet he was very different from most other climbers shunning the limelight.. He led a “hippy … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Enviroment, Equipment, Expeditions - Alaska - Himalayas etc, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

Really enjoyed Andy Kitkpatrick talk at Inverness last night. Andy Kirkpatrick – “Mind Your Head: Holidays from Hell”

Posted on November 1, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

It was pouring for most of the day as I travelled to Inverness. I was a bit wary of being in a theatre again. Yet I am so glad I went. Andy was on great form and I laughed so … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Friends, Media, Mountaineering, People, Well being | 2 Comments

What’s your favourite hill food?

Posted on October 30, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

When I first went on the hills as a very young boy my Dad always carried a huge bar of Cadbury’s chocolate. That was the highlight of many a walk getting a few squares. In the old days we used … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Equipment, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 4 Comments

Scary Flights – “One shot pass” Alaska Denali.

Posted on April 4, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

I did lots of scary flights in helicopters for many years on all weathers. Yet the most scared I was when flying into Denali (Alaska) on Mount McKinley. I had seen many aircraft crashes in my Mountain Rescue days. Always … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Articles, Avalanche info, Expeditions - Alaska - Himalayas etc, Friends, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Recomended books and Guides, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Mark “Cheeky”Sinclair and Neil Main Lochnagar March 95.

Posted on March 16, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

This was the news I dreaded I heard it on the radio , ‘Two climbers killed on Lochnagar.It is 37 years since Mark and Neil climbed his last route and the loss of two pals in March 1995 on Lochnagar. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Articles, Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

Tent Bound – week 2 “Lock in” How Expeditions and tent life helped?

Posted on April 5, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

During these recent times I think that some of the long Expeditions I have been so lucky to be on help get you through hard times. Sometimes we never made the tent and had to bivy outside it was so … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Articles, Equipment, Expeditions - Alaska - Himalayas etc, Himalayas/ Everest, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment