Category Archives: Equipment

Viscount aircraft crash Ben More Crianlarich 19 Jan 1973

Posted on January 23, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

One of my first aircraft searches was for a Missing Viscount aircraft from Glasgow airport that crashed on Ben More (Crainlarich) in the winter 19 -23 January 1973. The aircraft was on a short air test from Glasgow. The two … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Bothies, Equipment, Friends, Health, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 2 Comments

Crag Swag !

Posted on January 12, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Nowadays if you lose gear on a climb or on a mountain folk are very good at putting up on social media and a lot gets returned to the owner. Many years ago in the early 70’s we used to … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Avalanche info, Enviroment, Equipment, Gear, Mountain rescue, Rock Climbing, Views Mountaineering, Well being | 3 Comments

Beinn Eighe Liathach and Beinn Alligin attempt Oct 1976 then a call to Cruachan.

Posted on December 28, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

I am in Torridon just now the hills are plastered with snow after a bleak morning of rain and sleet. The weather cleared in the afternoon and we had a great wander as we descended the Torridon hills cleared they … Continue reading →

Posted in Corbetts, Corbetts and other hills, Enviroment, Equipment, Gear, Hill running and huge days!, Local area and events to see, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, People, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

Photos that will always mean a lot.

Posted on December 22, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

I was looking out and some old photos and got sent this by a pal Mark Rushton. After their ascent of the Eiger North Face Ted Atkins and Al MacLeod both exhausted with far away eyes relaxing below the mountain. … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Equipment, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

Winter Boots and Crampons a few thoughts Some advice from Scottish Mountaineering website.

Posted on November 30, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

I wore my winter boots the other day on the Cairngorms. They are a bit heavier but they allow me to walk across hard snow with care. I had my crampons and axe with me as well as the Cairngorm … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Equipment, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

“The Fox of Glencoe” Hamish MacInnes RIP

Posted on November 23, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

The sad but not unexpected sad news that Hamish had passed away yesterday. There will be much written by many in the Mountaineering world who climbed with Hamish over the years. His exploits are legendary and so impressive. Hamish climbed … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Equipment, Expeditions - Alaska - Himalayas etc, Friends, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Well being | 10 Comments

A bit more on Specs on the hills plus a few comments.

Posted on November 17, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

Yesterday I wrote about my experience of over 55 years of wearing glasses on the hills. I also developed Cataracts and due to a problem in my area with getting the operation I had to go private. The change was … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Equipment, Friends, Gear, Health, mountain safety, People, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 1 Comment

Start of the Avalanche forecast essential reading along with the daily weather forecasts.

Posted on November 4, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

From the SAIS: The Scottish Avalanche Information Service Home “Start of Season 2020/21 – Be Alert to Early Winter Snowpack InstabilitiesA standby avalanche forecast service will be provided for the Northern Cairngorms and Lochaber regions during the months of November … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Avalanche info, Equipment, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather | 2 Comments

Beinn Bhan 896 metres route from Beleach Na Ba. A day snatched before the weather breaks.

Posted on October 31, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

It was an early start to meet my pal Kalie in Applecross before the forecast weekend storm broke. I had looked at a route and though the forecast was poor I thought we could see what the weather was like … Continue reading →

Posted in Corbetts and other hills, Enviroment, Equipment, Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Scottish winter climbing., Weather, Well being, Wildlife | 2 Comments

How much does a photo bring back memories? The remote Coire a’ Granda Beinn Dearg. The healing power of the wild places to help your well being.

Posted on October 26, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

The photo above was taken after my second operation when I was pretty ill a few years ago 2017. As I recovered slowly by walking round my stunning Moray coast they were just not enough for me. I needed to … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Enviroment, Equipment, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment