Category Archives: Avalanche info

Be careful – lots of snow about. Be Avalanche aware.

Posted on January 16, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

It’s great to read of folk climbing enjoying the winter. There is lots of snow falling over the next few days. Please be careful and read the weather and Avalanche Reports. Things have moved on over the years the weather … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Avalanche info, Book, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

A few memories good & bad of snow holing.

Posted on January 8, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

A pal asked me recently if when I am feeling better would fancy going snow holing this winter? It brought back so many memories some good some bad of some wild nights in the Cairngorms and Ben Nevis. In those … Continue reading →

Posted in Avalanche info, Equipment, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Recomended books and Guides, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 2 Comments

Callout – Glencoe 14 Feb 1976

Posted on December 19, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

This is the second article from Tom McLellan it’s an interesting account in a different era. Glencoe – Saturday, 14th February 1976 All day the cloud was low down in Glencoe but I was familiar with the route up into … Continue reading →

Posted in Avalanche info, Gear, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

Winter Top Tip – Preparation.

Posted on December 14, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

Plan your day – look at routes in advance cans be prepared to change your plans. Look at weather and avalanche forecasts not just on the day of your journey. Build up a picture of what’s happening. Leave a plan … Continue reading →

Posted in Avalanche info, Enviroment, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

Just back from an incredible 3 days at the JMCOf Scotland hut. On the 40 Anniversary of the F111 crash on Sgurr Na Stri.

Posted on December 10, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

I have been struggling with health issues but I so wanted to be near the crash site on Sgurr Na Stri above Loch Coruisk. I had promised the relatives if I was able I would go. Packing the bag for … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Avalanche info, Bothies, Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | 5 Comments

Remembrance Week – A forgotten story of the Wellington crash on Geal Charn near Ben Alder.

Posted on November 12, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

To me this is an incredible story not well known but worthy of being acknowledged as an incredible survival story of one of the crew. This crash site is in extremely remote country access can be wild in winter. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Avalanche info, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, PTSD, Views Mountaineering, Well being, Wildlife | 1 Comment

1972 – My last weekend of my trial – Avalanche Sgur Lurtharn Aonach Beag near Ben Alder that we were lucky to survive.

Posted on October 14, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

This as I stated was the last weekend of the trial and I was to go out with George Bruce the Team leader and 2 other team members. George had planned a winter scramble or climb up a magnificent ridge … Continue reading →

Posted in Avalanche info, Bothies, Enviroment, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | 1 Comment

Archives of Mountaineering incidents.

Posted on March 16, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

I am regularly asked to find information on past incidents. Sadly few teams have a complete record of all the incidents they attended. Over my years in the RAF I took it on to collate all the incidents RAF Kinloss … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Avalanche info, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Recomended books and Guides, SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Well being | 2 Comments

Every picture tells a story – Diran Pakistan.

Posted on March 3, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

When you see a big avalanche in the mountains it is a reminder of the power of nature. I had seen many in Scotland and was involved in many rescues. I had huge respect after being in two in Scotland. … Continue reading →

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Winter Skills – Day 2 Cairngorms a complete change in weather.

Posted on February 21, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

It was a bit hard getting the body going yesterday. Up for a good breakfast “porridge” and head for the Cairngorms. I had to be there for 0900 so I left early top tip as I was unsure of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Avalanche info, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 2 Comments