Category Archives: Expeditions – Alaska – Himalayas etc

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

Past Heroes – Eric Beard – Philip Tranter.

Posted on September 4, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

These two names were well kent many years ago may be lost in time but when I started mountaineering there were lots of great characters about. I was always interested in big hill days and both these characters were icons … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Bothies, Clothing, Expeditions - Alaska - Himalayas etc, Friends, Gear, Health, Hill running and huge days!, History, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing | 3 Comments

It’s at times very hard work carrying off folk from the hill. An appreciation of the hard work physically and mentally of the Mountain Rescue Teams.

Posted on September 2, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

A lot of the public think that Mountain Rescue teams do a good job. Few know of the effort taking carrying folk of the hill. It rarely gets a mention if the helicopter cannot get in due to weather or … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Expeditions - Alaska - Himalayas etc, Friends, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

Memories of Harris @ Lewis. The empty beaches, virgin rock, local history and a big Callout for the Shackelton aircraft crash.

Posted on July 19, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

I have so many great memories of Scotlands Islands my recent trip to Lewis for the Hebrides Music Festival was another now in my memories. Over the years I had gone over to Lewis and Harris often especially after a … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Enviroment, Expeditions - Alaska - Himalayas etc, Family, Flora, Friends, Health, Local area and events to see, Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Skin Cancer and the mountains. Please be aware !

Posted on June 1, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

I got some great replies to my blog on Heat exhaustion and skin cancer. Many years ago little was known about the effects of skin cancer and prolonged effect of being in the sun for prolonged periods. I spent many … Continue reading →

Posted in Clothing, Expeditions - Alaska - Himalayas etc, Friends, Gear, Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 4 Comments

Dave Nichols – Marine Mountaineer, motivator.

Posted on March 10, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

David Nichols was a man I met through the mountains. He was on Everest with one of my best pals Al McLeod who fell and was killed whilst soling the North Face of the Matterhorn. He ended up a Brigadier … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Expeditions - Alaska - Himalayas etc, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

John Hinde another great character.

Posted on January 27, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

I was very fortunate to meet so many great mentors in RAF Mountain Rescue. John Hinde was one who helped me a lot and gave me so much of the history of the Mountain Rescue Service. John was a superb … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Corbetts and other hills, Enviroment, Expeditions - Alaska - Himalayas etc, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Other hills Grahams & Donalds, Rock Climbing, Scottish winter climbing., Well being | 2 Comments

A great read “ The Bond” by Simon McCartney.

Posted on January 14, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

My pal Terry Moore had chased me to read this book, I was not disappointed what a read. The book was written years after two stunning ascents in Alaska. The climbs at time were so legendary that some believed they … Continue reading →

Posted in Book, Books, Expeditions - Alaska - Himalayas etc, Mountaineering, Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

Cold Bivouac’s – what’s yours ?

Posted on January 6, 2023 by heavywhalley.MBE

Most of the bivouacs in my early days in these days the bivouac gear was basic. Orange polythene bags were the standard. This was the early 80’s a few on call-outs. My worst one was on Skye in 1982 on … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Alaska, Books, Enviroment, Expeditions - Alaska - Himalayas etc, Gear, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Views Mountaineering | 4 Comments

1977 – Off to RAF Buchan – 1978 The Great Blizzards.

Posted on November 1, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

Just as I was getting back into the mountains and I was enjoying life at RAF Kinloss. I had just returned from Iran on a big expedition, another steep learning club. Photo below. Then out of the blue I was … Continue reading →

Posted in Expeditions - Alaska - Himalayas etc, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Views Political?, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment