Category Archives: Avalanche info

My mate Tom Mac Donald RIP.

Posted on January 20, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

Tom MacDonald I have the just had the sad news of my pal Tom MacDonald died on Thursday at his home in Dundee. I have no other news as yet. It was a huge shock as I thought the man … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Avalanche info, Bothies, Corbetts and other hills, Family, Flora, Friends, Ice climbing Canada, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Munros, People, Plants, Rock Climbing, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Well being, Wildlife | 8 Comments

Tricky winter hills – Beinn a Chaorainn.

Posted on January 9, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

I was speaking to a winter mountaineer the other day about Beinn a Chaorainn. A Munro on the Laggan road that is often combined with Beinn Teallach. He was unaware that on poor conditions Beinn a Chaorainn can be a … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Avalanche info, Books, Family, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

Assynt – Ben Mhor Coigach Sgurr an Fhidhleir – The Fhidhleir

Posted on January 8, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

My friend Terry was up North visiting Assynt he had a couple of great days. I cover for him when he is alone on the hill. It’s a bit of back up for him he sent me a few great … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Avalanche info, Corbetts and other hills, Family, Friends, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Poems, Recomended books and Guides, Rock Climbing, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

Learning from Lochnagar.

Posted on January 4, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

Lochnagar is a wonderful cliff and it has so many incredible memories. In winter especially it’s a majestic mountain and comes into its own. This is from UK climbing. To me they are wonderful words. “Of all Scotland’s iconic winter … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Avalanche info, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Well being | 4 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

At last a weekend on the hills. Some tips for early season mountaineering.

Posted on December 3, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

The day started early with a Covid Test as I am away for a weekend with the Moray Mountaineering Club . There are only a few of us out staying at the Jacobite Mountaineering Club hut near Achnasheen Invercroft. These … Continue reading →

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

Getting away for the mountains in the short daylight of Mid November and December.

Posted on November 17, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

These are the days of shorter daylight – This time of year you get into the short daylight hours on the hills. Around now we have less than 8 hours before it’s pitch dark. Many of us learn this the … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Avalanche info, Books, Corbetts and other hills, Equipment, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, People, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

The Gaick Avalanche – a wild area in winter.

Posted on November 4, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

First let me apologise as I have not been on the internet recently as I had a bad Gastro bowel bug and been laid up for 4 days. At least I lost some weight a rather drastic weight loss and … Continue reading →

Posted in Avalanche info, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 2 Comments

Some good comments from yesterday’s blog on Training in wild conditions.

Posted on October 13, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Please note yesterday’s blog was not an ego article but an insight into the mindset of the times. The point I was trying to make was that we trained very hard to do the job we did. I got to … Continue reading →

Posted in Avalanche info, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

The Torridon hills some memories.

Posted on September 28, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

The other day I was up a lovely wee hill An – Ruadh Meallean near Torridon that gave me a great view of the West side of the Torridon Munro Beinn Alligin. I have done several big call outs on … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Avalanche info, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment