Category Archives: Gear

Filming in a wet Torridon about the Lancaster Beinn Eighe crash.

Posted on May 13, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

I often wonder how many who climb that magnificent mountain Beinn Eighe and do not know that there is a plane crash on the mountain. So many walk by the Lancaster aircraft wreckage that lies in the wild and Cathedral … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Equipment, Friends, Gear, History, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, PTSD, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | 3 Comments

Bothies – A few thoughts to The MBA thanks ! Memories of Back hill of Bush Galloway.

Posted on May 10, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

My first visit to a Mountain Bothy was as a very young boy about 12 making up the numbers for a Duke of Edinburgh expedition in Galloway. The bothy was Back Hill of Bush. I received this through my blog … Continue reading →

Posted in Bothies, Enviroment, Friends, Gear, Health, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Views Mountaineering, Views Political?, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

What’s your best advice on multi pitch mountain routes for someone wanting to rock climb away from outcrop climbing?

Posted on May 7, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

Any ideas on good easier mountain routes for folk wanting to climb on a mountain crag? Here’s a few of mine. I get asked this often from folks who have climbed on low level crags and want to expand their … Continue reading →

Posted in Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Recomended books and Guides, Rock Climbing, Views Mountaineering | 2 Comments

Sea Stacks – A few tales: The old man of Stoer. An early ascent in 1968 and a ascent of a foam covered Stack!

Posted on April 26, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

Well done Bridget from Skye ( All things Culluin) for climbing the Old Man of Storr a sea stack near Lochinver. A great day out for you and Adrian and what a way to experience a birthday. It got me … Continue reading →

Posted in Enviroment, Equipment, Friends, Gear, Mountaineering, People, Rock Climbing, SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Wildlife | 2 Comments

Mountain Safety how do we get the Safety message across. Self Reliance could be a key.

Posted on March 16, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

For some reason my blog has vanished on the internet. What I said was though there is great work down by various organisations on safety in the mountains the tragedies keep happening. I know there are many more going into … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Flora, Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

Extra care needed on the winter mountains: a statement from Police Scotland.

Posted on March 9, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

Introduction : by Heavy The hills are incredible in winter but the snow just now is rock hard meaning a slip on an icy slope could be serious . I was out on the hills on Sunday the snow in … Continue reading →

Posted in Equipment, Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

Belays.

Posted on March 2, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

Most of us that climb have seen poor belays this was on Skye on a great route called Cioch Grooves HVS 5a. It is a 2 star 500 foot route on the wonderful Sron Na Ciche . This climb was … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Friends, Gear, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Recomended books and Guides, Rock Climbing, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

Crampons – some thoughts.

Posted on February 23, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

My first time in crampons was in Feb 1972 it was on a remote Munro from Iron Lodge near Kintail. Mullach na Dheregain . I was with another team member from Kinloss he was supposed to be looking after me … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Friends, Gear, Ice climbing Canada, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering | 5 Comments

A wee reminder of winter.

Posted on February 11, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

Yesterday I had planned a wander with David Lintren. We had met years ago and had wanted to do a wee piece for Walk Highlands. David Lintern is an award-winning photographer and writer, an average mountaineer and a below average runner. … Continue reading →

Posted in Avalanche info, Book, Family, Friends, Gear, Local area and events to see, Mountain Biking, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Recomended books and Guides, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Canada Ice – wooden axes, crampons, basic ice screws and Big B–ls – in memory of Tom MacDonald, Mark Sinclair and Guy Lacelle.

Posted on January 30, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

I have so many wonderful memories of Canada and the Rockies from my early trip in 1983 when few from the UKwere aware of this Mecca of ice. At that time there were under 100 ice climbs there. My great … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Friends, Gear, Ice climbing Canada, Mountaineering, People, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment