Category Archives: Enviroment

St Kilda – is this a Tragedy

Posted on May 16, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

I was sent this photo of St Kilda ( VIlage Bay. It was published by Bella Caledonia. “This image from St Kilda is soul-destroying. Late capitalism, over-tourism and climate catastrophe converge. I wrote about it last year: bellacaledonia.org.uk/2023/09/16/cal…” National Trust … Continue reading →

Posted in Enviroment, Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | 1 Comment

Early days Arran

Posted on May 2, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

Travelling from my hometown in Ayr we holidayed in the nearby Arran the boat over was always like coming to another world! We were a big family of 5 kids ( i was the youngest) that feeling of being on … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Enviroment, Equipment, Islands, Mountaineering, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Another piece of history SMC Journals

Posted on February 6, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

Yesterday I gave my SMC Journals to Robin Clothier a SMC s stalwart. There was nearly;80;years worth. They gave me so much enjoyment and back ground on my Statistician. Robin a is connoisseur.Of mountaineering despite being a great climber he … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Clothing, Corbetts, Corbetts and other hills, Enviroment, Friends, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Munro Society, Munros, People, Recomended books and Guides, SARDA, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering | 3 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

Fort William mountain Festival. Thurs day 15 Feb

Posted on January 10, 2024 by heavywhalley.MBE

MEET OUR LEGENDS 🏔️ 🥳Celebrating Excellence in Mountain Culture Come along on Thursday 15th of February to kick start the weekend and help us celebrate our 20th birthday with a night of inspiring stories, a complimentary nip of Gin from … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Avalanche info, Books, Enviroment, Equipment, Friends, Media, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

An Teallach path wins £60000 to help with repairs.

Posted on December 24, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

From Mountaineering Scotland “An Teallach path project wins €60,000 European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) grant All photos mountaineering Scotland p no We’re delighted to announce that It’s Up to Us – the three-year partnership conservation project from Mountaineering Scotland and … Continue reading →

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Winter Epic on Creag Meagaidh. Dog through the cornice. A few thoughts and tips.

Posted on December 14, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

For many years Creag Meagaidh was a hill that I did a lot of Call-outs on supporting the Lochaber or Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Teams. There were a lot of Avalanches on the mountain and its complex plateau can be extremely … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Avalanche info, Clothing, Enviroment, Family, Friends, Health, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 4 Comments

International Mountain Day

Posted on December 11, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

Since I was a wee boy in Galloway and Arran the mountains have been my love. They have given me great days and sad sad days. The mountains have taken friends yet more than often they provided such joy. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Enviroment, Expeditions - Alaska - Himalayas etc, Falklands Islands, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Munros, Views Mountaineering, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Longing for the hills. Learning to cope.

Posted on December 4, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

Sadly I will not be on the mountains for a while. They are my place to be, most days just now I struggled on short walks locally. At least I have a date for a liver biopsy on 22 Dec … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Clothing, Enviroment, Equipment, Friends, Mountaineering, Views Political?, Weather, Well being | 12 Comments