Category Archives: Equipment

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

Kinloss Mountain Rescue Team Routes on Ben Nevis in winter. Ian Clough and others.

Posted on January 14, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

In the 50’s when National Service was mandatory a few climbers were posted to RAF Kinloss in the UK the Mountain Rescue Team in Morayshire in the North of Scotland. As the team trained most weekends at various Base Camps … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Equipment, Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, Recomended books and Guides, Rock Climbing, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering | Leave a comment

Cracking books and ideas for climbing the hills. “Scotlands Mountain Ridges.” Dan Bailey and that old favourite the SMC District Guides.

Posted on January 9, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

This is great guidebook with a mix of summer scrambling, rock climbing and winter mountaineering on Scotland’s ridges, from the remote Cairngorms to the splendour of the Cuillin. Graceful carved walkways slung between summits, twisted spines of stone – ridges … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Equipment, Friends, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, People, Recomended books and Guides, Rock Climbing, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

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

Short days in the shortest of days – The odd climb before the crowds return after Christmas.

Posted on December 22, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Short days on the shortest day! Coire Sputan Dearg Mac Dui – Grey mans crag. The Ben, Lochnagar and other great places. The shortest day is now behind us and I was reminded of trying to get in early winter … Continue reading →

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

A sad event “Tragedy on Ben Nevis – 19 th December 1954 .”

Posted on December 20, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

“On the 19 Dec 1954 exactly 67 years ago Eleven Royal Naval personnel from Royal Naval Air Station Fulmar (Lossiemouth) left to climb Ben Nevis via Coire Leis. They had stayed overnight and left the CIC hut where they were … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Enviroment, Equipment, Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Well being | 2 Comments

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

1977 Winter West – East Scotland. Kintail to Fort William heavy snow and a meeting with the Sea King helicopter.

Posted on November 25, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Day 8. – 4/11/77 – Kintail Sheil Bridge – A very steep start to the day after a walk up the road and then huge hills on the 5 sisters of Kintail ridge. This is classic walking/ mountaineering. I feel … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Bothies, Equipment, Hill running and huge days!, Mountaineering, Munros, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

A short “Welly wander” to the bothy at Corrie Fionnaraich – Coulags .

Posted on November 20, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

I am over in the West visiting a friend the weather is wild the rivers are in full spate and the rain has been driving most of the day getting worse in the West. I had a pal finishing his … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Bothies, Equipment, Friends, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, People, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | 1 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