Category Archives: Gear

Glovers Chimney – Ben Nevis.

Posted on January 26, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

Classic Scottish winter climbing – Glovers Chimney Ben Nevis photo Mark Hartree First ascent winter 1935 by G.C McPhee and party. My first introduction to this classic route was on my first ascent of Tower Ridge in the early 70’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Friends, Gear, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT | 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

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

The Corrour Tragedy 29 – 31 December 1951.

Posted on December 12, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

A few years ago as I walked into Ossian Youth Hostel from Corrour Station on Friday night a small snow shower hit me just as it was getting dark. It reminded me of though such a wonderful place to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Bothies, Gear, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Recomended books and Guides, SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

Some good advice from Greg Boswell.

Posted on December 10, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

It’s great when you see some of the top climbers giving good advice. Greg has let me publish his words from last week there’s a lot of sense in them! It’s all very good and well running of time the … Continue reading →

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

A time I felt we pushed it to far?

Posted on November 26, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

It’s good to see that a few excellent comments on some of the past blogs. Please remember that I do not write them to put folk off mountaineering. Many are thoughts on a mountaineering career of over 50 years. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Friends, Gear, Health, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Munros, People, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 2 Comments

Getting old in the mountains a few tips? The secret is do not give up.

Posted on October 21, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

I was on a wee hill yesterday when a pal said at time’s I get sad that I may not be able to get big days on the hills anymore. As you get older the body does show signs and … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Equipment, Friends, Gear, Health, medical, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Other hills Grahams & Donalds, Recomended books and Guides, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | 12 Comments

Self Reliance ( meaning “reliance on one’s own powers and resources rather than those of others”) on the mountains a few thoughts.

Posted on October 15, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

It is what many of us call this is the “silly season” it’s already started in my mind. The daylight hours are now shortening and the weather changing. Mountain Rescue Teams are getting busy as the weather, daylight catch folk … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Enviroment, Equipment, Gear, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | 6 Comments

Windy walk at times on An Ruadh – Mheallan the Little Red Hill ( A Graham near Beinn Alligin

Posted on September 27, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

The plan was to climb Beinn Alligin at Torridon but the winds were forecast pretty high. So we opted for a pathless Graham opposite the big Munro . From it you can see a another side of the Munro Beinn … Continue reading →

Posted in Avalanche info, Corbetts and other hills, Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Munros, Other hills Grahams & Donalds, People, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

A Classic Climb Greag Dubh Wall – Tremadoc North Wales.

Posted on September 3, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

I located a photo with great memories of my time in North Wales. I loved climbing there and we often went to Tremadoc which seemed to hold the good weather. It was also a roadside crag( no long Scottish walks … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Friends, Gear, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Recomended books and Guides, Views Mountaineering, Well being | 2 Comments